The rollout of the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker’s recent distant vision system will likely slip into 2026, placing it nearly two years behind schedule, in accordance with the Air Force’s top acquisition official.
Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, told the House Armed Services subcommittee on seapower and projection forces that schedule pressures on the vision system, referred to as RVS 2.0, are placing doubtful probably the most recent goal of releasing it to the fleet by October 2025. Because of this, RVS 2.0 could find yourself being nearly two years late.
Hunter indicated the FAA’s airworthiness certification process — the completion of which is able to officially close out the system’s design approval — is certainly one of the aspects again delaying RVS 2.0. Boeing and its primary subcontractor, Collins Aerospace, are the fundamental firms working on RVS 2.0.
“There may be some schedule pressure there,” Hunter told lawmakers during a March 12 hearing on the service’s proposed fiscal 2025 budget. “Depending on the completion of the FAA airworthiness certification process, I cannot guarantee you that we could be ready to field [RVS 2.0] in ‘25. It might be ‘26 – and that is definitely likely, I feel it is going to probably field in ‘26.”
Boeing declined to comment and referred Defense News’ queries to the Air Force, which has not yet responded to follow-up questions.
RVS 2.0 will replace the KC-46′s original, troubled Distant Vision System, which doesn’t respond quickly enough to sun and shadows and sometimes produces a distorted image. The Air Force fears that a faulty vision system could lead on boom operators to by accident damage receiving aircraft with the refueling boom.
It is going to use a series of sensors, screens and 4k ultrahigh-definition cameras to permit the KC-46′s boom operators a 3D, full-color picture as they guide refueling booms into receiving aircraft.
RVS 2.0 was purported to be released in March 2024. But in October 2022, the service confirmed that schedule had slipped 19 months, largely as a consequence of supply chain problems affecting the project’s subcontractors.
Boeing said on the time that parts shortages had led to longer lead times for computing equipment and other technology needed for RVS 2.0. The FAA and Air Force’s airworthiness certification processes also were aspects in that delay, Boeing and the Air Force said in 2022.
Hunter also said the KC-46 continues to be not completely cleared to refuel A-10 Warthog attack aircraft, as a consequence of a longstanding issue with the stiffness of its refueling boom and the A-10′s thrust.
It’s not unattainable for the KC-46 to refuel an A-10, Hunter said, but “it’s not a very good idea to do it on a routine basis, and due to this fact, we don’t.”
Hunter said the Air Force has enough KC-135 Stratotankers in its fleet to securely operate A-10s wherever it needs.
Boeing can be working on a redesigned actuator for the KC-46′s boom that might allow protected refueling of the A-10.
The Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation said in its fiscal 2023 annual report that the brand new boom actuator’s flight testing could start later this 12 months, with flight testing of RVS 2.0 expected to begin in 2025.
Hunter also told lawmakers he believes the improved video clarity of RVS 2.0 will open up recent opportunities so as to add autonomous capabilities within the KC-46′s refueling operations. And the Air Force could introduce more autonomous capabilities within the KC-46′s cockpit to cut back the pressure on pilots, he said, who can turn out to be “task-saturated” throughout the “dicier” moments of the refueling process.
The Air Force expects to have 102 KC-46s in its fleet by the tip of this 12 months, and 118 by the tip of 2025. The service is now on contract with Boeing for 139 KC-46s, and plans to purchase 179 in all.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.