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Air Force

Air Force Approves KC-46 Tanker Program for IOT&E Phase

By Vivienne Machi

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019

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Air Force Approves KC-46 Tanker Program for IOT&E Phase

A KC-46A tanker takes off from Boeing Field outside Seattle en route to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Jan. 31, 2019. The program suffered $275 million in charges in the fourth quarter of 2020. Photo: Boeing

The Air Force has certified the KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueler program to enter initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E), the service said Oct. 23, making its goal to reach the critical milestone by this fall. The service's program executive officer for tankers, Brig. Gen. John Newberry, formally certified the Pegasus' transition into IOT&E on Tuesday, per a Wednesday statement. The Boeing [BA]-led program has long suffered setbacks, cost overruns and schedule delays, and has most recently been beleaguered by delivery…

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