KC-46 completes survivability tests
The KC-46 tanker has successfully undergone its most detailed weapons survivability test series to date at the Weapons Survivability Lab (WSL) of the US Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), it was announced on 3 June.
The tanker aircraft underwent tests outlined by the KC-46 Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) programme. The tests were used to assess the aircraft's system-level survivability against advanced and ballistic threats in high-fidelity operational environments.
Scott Wacker, KC-46 lead engineer, said: 'These [tests] have never been done before, so I'm happy to say that we met all our objectives. I believe that we are advancing the state of the art in understanding vulnerability in aircraft.'
Eric Brickson, KC-46 LFT&E engineer, said: 'There were over 330 channels collecting raw data, 10 high speed cameras recording 10,000 to 100,000 frames per second and 30 real time video feeds. We had a very extensive list of requirements and NAWCWD met them all.'
A total of 179 KC-46s are expected to be procured by the USAF to replace a third of the current aerial refuelling fleet.
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