U.S. Transportation Command needs some 465 tankers, according to its Mobility Capabilities Study, as the U.S. Air Force looks to fix five Category 1 deficiencies on its Boeing [BA] KC-46A Pegasus in the next year and a half. The KC-135 Stratotanker, which first fielded in 1957, is the backbone of the strategic tanker fleet, and Boeing has delivered 89 KC-46As before stopping in February due to cracks discovered on two planes. Congress has set the minimum tanker number at 466.…
