Documents
United States Boeing
KC-46 Pegasus
Boeing 767-based aerial refueling tanker replacing the U.S. Air Force's aging KC-135 fleet, combining a boom and drogue refueling system with cargo and aeromedical evacuation capability.
In service since 2019 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
915
km/h
12,200
km range
12,000
m ceiling
💲 ≈ $152,000,000, Approximate unit procurement cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2019. Status: active · ~89 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$380M – $532M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~35 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 915 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 12,200 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 12,000 m |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 50.5 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 47.6 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 15.85 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 82,377 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
| Cargo payload Maximum cargo the transport can carry. Higher means more lift per sortie. | 29,500 kg |
| Troop capacity Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more. | 114 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofan |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable). | 275 kN |
| Fuel capacity Internal fuel volume. | 96,297 L |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $152,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 89 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public Boeing and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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KC-46 Pegasus vs
Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus has a maximum speed of 915 km/h.
What is the range of the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus has a maximum range of 12,200 km.
How many crew does the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus require? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus requires a crew of 3.
What engine does the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus use? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofan.
How many countries operate the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus cost? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus has an approximate unit cost of 152,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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Related coverage
KC-46 Pegasus in the news
Article comparison · Aug 6, 2026
The C-17 Hauls 7x More Cargo Per Km Than the KC-46
The C-17 moves 7x more cargo per km of range than the KC-46 Pegasus, not because it's a better airlifter, but because tankers spend their weight budget on fuel.
News conflict · Jul 18, 2026
US to Send Dozens More Refueling Tankers to Israel
The Trump administration has told Israel it will restore aerial refueling deployment to early-war levels, as the White House weighs strikes reaching deeper into Iran's nuclear infrastructure.