As it contemplates additional tanker sales to Japan, Boeing has pitched the smaller size of its KC-46 as a competitive attribute against the rival Airbus Defence & Space A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT).
In a media briefing at the Japan Aerospace show in Tokyo, Sean Martin, senior business development manager at the company, also expressed the view that there are no signs as yet that the strike affecting Boeing’s Seattle factories will delay a pair of KC-46s that are set for delivery to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) in 2025.
Martin says the company is “fully committed” with its labour force to solving the dispute, and that it is also “fully committed” to its international customers. Still, it feels that the fifth and sixth aircraft for Japan are on track.
“However, when the strike is concluded and our labour force comes back and our leadership team can reassess, we will do that, and definitely be open and honest with Japan and make sure that they are aware of any impacts to it,” he says.
As for Boeing’s decision to cease production of the 767F in 2027, Martin says it is too soon to gauge the impact of this – if any – on the KC-46 programme.
So far the JASDF has four KC-46s and has orders for two more aircraft. Moreover, the US government recently cleared the possible sale of nine more examples.
Martin reiterates that the updated version of the KC-46’s remote vision system (RVS 2.0) will be delivered to the US Air Force in 2026 – the service already has 89 KC-46s in service.
Martin showed slides comparing the KC-46 with the rival Airbus platform. Although Tokyo preferred the KC-46, the MRTT has proven popular with other air forces in the Asia-Pacific area. Key regional partners of the USA such as Australia, Singapore and South Korea operate the A330 MRTT.
Martin contends that the 767-derived KC-46 has a smaller footprint on crowded airbase aprons than the MRTT. In addition, runway strength might limit take-off fuel aboard the larger jet.
For landings, Martin states that the 767 requires 2,000m (6,560ft), compared with 2,500m for the MRTT. In addition, the 767 has a tighter turn radius, helping it manoeuvre better at smaller airfields.
“You have to remember that the KC-46 was built to operate in a medium threat enviornment, to be survivable, to be adaptable and to be capable of operating out of the same airfields as the [Boeing] KC-135,” adds Martin.
Another slide, using figures from 2018, showed that the 767-300’s total cost per flight hour was 22% lower than the A330-200.
Airbus, for its part, launched the MRTT+ at July’s Farnborough air show, with the new aircraft based on the more fuel efficient A330-800. At that show, Airbus claimed that the MRTT+ would boast a 41% range advantage over the KC-46A.
Story amended to correct the number of KC-46s the JASDF has on order.
