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KC-46, Tinker Air Force Base and new DLA contracts issued to Boeing

Boeing’s KC-46 aerial refueling tanker conducts receiver compatibility tests with a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III (U.S. Air Force photo by Christopher Okula)

Background on the KC-46 program

The KC-46 program began as KC-X Tanker modernization program and is intended to replace the US Air Force’s legacy aircraft fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers which have been the primary refueling aircraft for more than 50 years. The requirement was for four (4) developmental aircraft with options for up to 175 production aerial refueling tanker aircraft based on existing commercial aircraft designs.   The US Air Force – Aeronautical Systems Center’s (ASC) KC-X Program Office located in Wright-Patterson AFB OH posted solicitation FA8625-10-R-6600 in February of 2010.  In February of 2011 the Air Force awarded contract FA8625-11-C-6600 to the Boeing Company for $4.4 Billion dollars for Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) only excluding options.

The KC-46 is a tanker aircraft designed for aerial refueling used to support to the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. It can also be used for cargo and aeromedical evacuations.  The cargo deck is located above the refueling system and can accommodate passengers, patients, and cargo.  The KC-46A will be able to carry up to eighteen (18) 463L cargo pallets which is the standard pallet system used for years. The sustainment strategy for the aircraft includes a 40-year service life.

Other major Government contracts awarded in support of the program

The KC-46 aircraft engines and aircraft frames are to be maintained at Tinker Air Force base, whereas Warner Robins and Ogden will be responsible for things like avionics and landing gear. Tinker decided to design and build a new depot maintenance complex in support of the new KC-46A’s.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) working with the Air Force on the project released an award in November of 2013, contract number W912BV-12-D-0006 for an amount of $3,426,910.00 for design of the facility. The architecture firm who was awarded the defense contract was Burns & Mcdonnell, Inc. and the award was made against an IDV the company was awarded back in 2012 out of the USACE Tulsa Oklahoma office.

In August of 2015 solicitation W912BV-15-R-0088 was posted by the USACE click this fedbizopps link for the solicitation. In May of 2016 the contract W912BV-16-C-0029 was awarded to Contrack Watts, Inc a for construction of the KC-46A depot maintenance complex support infrastructure to be located at Tinker Air Force Base, OK. The complex is forecasted start operating sometime in 2019.

Last week DLA Aviation announced a Performance Based Logistics (PBL) program with Boeing for support of the new tanker, more about this in an upcoming article.

BidLink is a leading provider of industry marketing data relating to DoD procurement for the past 18 years.

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Additional development costs of the KC-46A Tanker for US Air Force may cost Boeing $1 Billion Dollars

Boeing’s KC-46 aerial refueling tanker conducts receiver compatibility tests with a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III  (courtesy – U.S. Air Force photo by Christopher Okula)

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) just released their 7th report on the contract with Boeing for KC-46 Tanker Modernization.  This program will eventually replace approximately one-third of the US Air Force’s legacy aircraft fleet of refueling tankers.  The current fleet is comprised mostly of KC-135 Stratotankers, this new program plans to eventually provide a total of 179 new KC-46 tanker aircraft otherwise known as the KC-46A Pegasus to the Air Force.

This GAO study pointed out a few risks and challenges Boeing currently faces. Things such as a critical deficiency relating to the aerial refueling boom, completing flight tests at a quicker pace, and updating test aircraft to the correct configuration as well as a few other challenges. “Because of the terms of the contract, Boeing, not the government, is responsible for nearly $1 Billion in additional development costs already incurred.”

GAO found that the total acquisition cost estimate was stable over the past year at $44.4 billion and actually decreased about $7.3 billion, due in part to stable requirements. The delivery date of the first 18 fully capable KC-46 aircraft was changed to October 2018.  However risk assessments well as GAO’s analysis projects believe deliveries could slip to May 2019.

Tinker Air Force base where the KC-46A program office was established has already designed and is currently building a new depot maintenance complex in support of the new KC-46A’s. The US Army Corps of Engineers is the contracting agency for the building. DLA Aviation has also been issuing defense contracts in support of this program.

Read more about DLA KC-46 DOD contracts being awarded to Boeing.

BidLink is a leading providing of industry marketing data relating to DoD procurement for the past 18 years.