Altus AFB receives first Pegasus tanker

Altus Air Force Base, Okla., has received the sites first KC-46A Pegasus tanker, which officials said represents the fifth such apparatus Boeing has delivered to the service branch.

The KC-46 departed Seattle’s Boeing Field for Altus, where the base’s 56th Air Refueling Squadron is responsible for Pegasus aircrew, maintenance and support training.

“We’re excited to see the Pegasus arrive in Oklahoma, a strong partner to Boeing and America’s military,” Leanne Caret, Boeing Defense, Space & Security president and CEO, said. “We look forward to continuing to deliver KC-46 tankers to Altus, McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas and New Hampshire’s Pease Air National Guard Base, throughout this year.”

The KC-46, which officials said is derived from Boeing’s commercial 767 airframe, is built in the company’s Everett, Washington, with Boeing receiving its initial contract in 2011 to design and develop the Air Force’s newest tanker aircraft.

“The Mighty 97th is looking forward to accepting and integrating the KC-46 into our mission,” Col. Eric Carney, commander of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base, said. “The 97th AMW has and will continue to produce combat-capable pilots, loadmasters, and boom operators for the KC-135, C-17 and KC-46 and we remain committed to innovating how we train them to be a part of a joint force to win our nation’s wars.”