WASHINGTON, March 3, 2020 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of up to eight (8) KC-46 aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.4 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
The Government of Israel has requested to buy up to eight (8) KC-46 aircraft; up to seventeen (17) PW4062 turbofan engines (16 installed, 1 spare); and up to eighteen (18) MAGR 2K-GPS SAASM receivers (16 installed, 2 spares). Also included are AN/ARC-210 U/VHF radios, APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe transponders, initial spares and repair parts, consumables, support equipment, technical data, engineering change proposals, publications, Field Service Representatives (FSRs), repair and return, depot maintenance, training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, U.S. Government and contractor representative support, Group A and B installation for subsystems, flight test and certification, other related elements of logistics support and training. The total estimated program cost is $2.4 billion.
The principal contractors will be Boeing Corporation, Everett, WA, for the aircraft; and Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA, for the MAGR 2K. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of two U.S. field service/contractor representatives to Israel.
Israeli Air Force to receive first KC-46A aerial refuelling aircraft in May 2025
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) will receive its first Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling aircraft in May 2025, according to sources in the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD). If no further obstacles arise, it will end the long saga that has delayed this programme and caused major concerns within the IAF.
The delays initially stemmed from bureaucratic hurdles in Israel, followed by political instability caused by the so called “judiciary revolution” initiated by the right-wing government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu.
The second KC-46A will be delivered towards the end of 2025, the third in 2026 and the fourth in 2027.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has won a tender from the Israeli Ministry of Defense to supply a management and control computer for the Israel Air Force’s new Boeing KC-46 refueling aircraft.
This computer, part of the OPAL family, integrates Israeli systems into the aircraft’s core systems using open architecture based on Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) and FACETM standards.
The State of Israel signed a contract with Boeing in 2022 for four KC-46A refueling aircraft to replace the aging Boeing 707s, with deliveries starting in 2025. IAI will develop logical interfaces, establish integration laboratories, and serve as the main technical integrator.
