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 ↗
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. Published studies put O&S anywhere from ~55% to ~70% of lifecycle cost depending on platform and method, which is why this is a band and not a single number. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Competitive field
18 comparable systems from 8 other manufacturers
Counted in the WeaponSpecs database: transport aircraft built by another manufacturer. A count of what this catalog holds, not a survey of the whole market. See the alternatives →
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. On an unmanned ground vehicle, this is the maximum mission payload the platform carries, including a weapon station. | 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.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT Head-to-head comparisons
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
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This Week: Allies Build Together, Not Just Buy American
Four allied nations built shared submarine and missile programs this week, while three of the week's biggest conflict claims still can't be verified.
News procurement · Aug 21, 2026
US Clears $4.5B KC-46A Tanker Sale to Qatar
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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.