
The U.S. Air Force continues to study what attributes its future KC-Z tanker should have, as the service tries to resolve six Category 1 deficiencies on its Boeing [BA] KC-46A Pegasus tankers--design and product quality faults that raise the possibility that the service may not field all planned KC-46As by the scheduled date of 2029 and may have to move toward a "bridge tanker" sooner. If the Air Force meets its 2029 fielding plan, "there will be 179 KC-46s, and…