Israel’s long-range strike capability is set to get its biggest upgrade to date, with the KC-46A refuelling aircraft arriving in the country in 2026.
In the past year, Israel has demonstrated that its military strategy is increasingly focused on conducting long-range strikes on adversaries spread across the West Asian region.
These meticulously planned long-range missions are made possible by air refuelling aircraft that help increase the range and loiter time of Israel’s F-35I Adir, F-15 Ra’am, and F-16 Sufa fighters, enabling strikes or reconnaissance far beyond its borders.
The Israel Air Force, constantly at a pseudo-war with Iran and its proxies, relies on the 60-year-old Boeing 707 “Re’em” for its long-range missions.
These aircraft have been critical in extending the range of Israel Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, enabling long-range missions such as the latest 12-day ‘Operation Rising Lion’ over Iran, where they reportedly conducted over 700 refuelling sorties.
However, the fact is that these are aging machines, which means they are growing more expensive, are difficult to maintain, and lack the capabilities required for modern combat. This is, perhaps, why the Israel Air Force signed itself up for the Boeing KC-46A.
The first two of these tankers will land in Israel by next year, according to a recent report in The Jerusalem Post. The KC-46A tankers will replace the Boeing 707. The first two aircraft will be delivered by 2026, followed by more deliveries at a later (unspecified) date.
A $930 million agreement was signed by Israel with the US government for the purchase of up to eight KC-46A in 2022. The contract will entail an initial acquisition of four KC-46As that could be later supplemented with four more aircraft.
The KC-46A Will Boost IAF’s Long-Range Capability
While Israel has some of the most advanced and combat-hardened jets, they do not have the combat radius to fly over to adversaries such as Iran or Yemen and come back to base.
The jets can either be refuelled mid-air or land at a friendly base near Iran, the latter being too far-fetched for Israel, as that would render the aircraft vulnerable to hostile missiles and drones.
Not only does an aerial tanker, such as the Re’em, increase the range of the fighter jets dispatched for strategic bombing runs, but it also allows tactical jets to carry heavier payloads or take circuitous routes to avoid hostile air defenses.
Thus, enhancing overall mission flexibility and success. So far, the Re’em has been a force multiplier in the IAF by keeping fighter jets airborne longer and reducing the need for multiple aircraft rotations.
The Boeing 707 Re’em are formerly civilian aircraft converted into aircraft refuellers. However, they have aged and are fast becoming obsolete. Though their electronics and computing systems have been upgraded, these aircraft are mechanically dated, using cables and levers.
They do feature a Remote Vision System (RVS) for boom operators to manage refueling, but their commercial airliner profile makes them highly visible on radar and less agile against threats, relying on limited missile defense systems, as repeatedly noted by Israeli experts and publications.
The KC-46A, in contrast, has a purpose-built military design and cutting-edge technology that provides superior reliability, precision, and integration compared to the retrofitted, aging 707s. The Israeli KC-46As will be equipped “with the most advanced system in the world for aerial refuelling alongside advanced defense systems and more,” Boeing said at the time of signing the contract.
The KC-46 Pegasus is a modified version of the Boeing 767 airliner. It can refuel planes at a rate of 1,200 gallons per minute with the help of its 55-foot fly-by-wire refueling boom. This aircraft features the Remote Vision System (RVS) 2.0 with 4K high-definition cameras, LiDAR sensors, and modern processors for precise refueling, potentially enabling autonomous refueling in the future.
Notably, it is outfitted with hose-and-drogue systems and a fly-by-wire refueling boom, which enable interoperability with a variety of American and other allied aircraft. Additionally, the aircraft incorporates the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) to improve situational awareness and data connection.
With a range of 11,000 kilometers, the KC-46 can refuel more than 64 different kinds of aircraft and would enable dozens of jets to stay in the air for up to 12 hours. The KC-46A can carry up to 212,000 pounds or about 96,000 kilograms of fuel, significantly more than the 707. It can refuel two aircraft simultaneously using wing-mounted hose-and-drogue pods and a centerline boom, increasing operational efficiency. More importantly, it can also receive fuel mid-air, extending its own range and mission endurance.
The KC-46A’s higher fuel capacity, dual refueling capability, and in-flight refueling option make it far more effective for supporting long-range and multi-aircraft missions.
It is equipped with several layers of defensive countermeasures, such as electronic countermeasures, infrared decoys, and missile warning systems, to identify, prevent, and eliminate threats.
Constructed specifically for combat near the battlefield, the KC-46 has fully inerted fuel tanks equipped with ballistic armor. Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with threat avoidance systems, IR countermeasures, RF warnings, and NVIS lighting (Night Vision Imaging System), which enables the aircraft to land in total darkness, providing the enormous aircraft with complete covert capabilities. Additionally, due to its newer airframe design, it has a smaller radar cross-section than the 707, which makes it harder to detect.
The aircraft also prioritises crew safety. It has a modern cockpit with advanced displays and ergonomics that essentially reduce crew fatigue during long missions.
As per publicly available sources, it is designed to improve mission flexibility in high-threat situations by operating closer to contested areas.
Israel had reportedly asked the US to fast-track the delivery of the refueler, apparently for preparations to strike Iran. Still, the Biden administration rejected the request, claiming that the first jet would not be delivered until 2024. However, the deliveries were further delayed due to a host of issues, such as those related to its boom and vision system, as explained in detail in a previous EurAsian Times report.
The original RVS, which boom operators used for refueling, had to be redesigned because of issues with lighting-related glare and distortion of depth perception (RVS 2.0).
Boeing’s Everett, Washington, KC-46A production line has been overworked due to concurrent commitments to Japan and the US Air Force.
However, the tankers are finally set to make their way into Israel, further emboldening its air force, which already demonstrated that it could travel a long distance in a regional war.
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