KC-46 completes flight tests

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, July 19 (UPI) -- The KC-46 Pegasus has completed the flight tests required for the Milestone C production decision, the U.S. Air Force announced Monday.

The tests were completed Friday and involved offloading 1,500 pounds of fuel in-air to an A-10 Thunderbolt II, the service said in a statement.

The A-10 mission was the last of six in-flight refueling demonstrations required before the tanker program can request approval to award production Lots 1 and 2 for 19 of the aircraft.

Pegasus has also successfully refueled the C-17 Globemaster II and F-16 using the air refueling boom, the F-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II using the centerline and wing drogue systems, and has played the role of a receiver aircraft.

The Milestone C decision to begin low-rate initial production is expected in August.

Manufactured by Boeing, the Pegasus is a wide-body, multi-role tanker that can refuel all U.S. allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures.

The aircraft can carry passengers, cargo and patients and can detect, avoid, defeat and survive threats using multiple layers of protection, enabling it to safely operate in medium-threat environments.