With the delivery of the fifteenth KC-46A Pegasus on August 8, the United States Air Force (USAF) has reached a significant milestone in its modernization program, bringing the total number of tanker aircraft in service to 95. However, this achievement comes in a complex context for Boeing, which is facing a labor strike that threatens to impact the schedule of future deliveries.
Despite the KC-46A’s historic technical issues —including critical failures in the Remote Vision System (RVS) linked to fatal accidents— Boeing had managed to accelerate production during 2024, reaching delivery of the 89th unit in October and securing a new contract in November for 15 additional aircraft, valued at $2.38 billion. Nevertheless, the current scenario is complicated by the escalation of the labor strike affecting the company, a long-standing conflict that has resurged with force in recent weeks.
More than 3,200 Boeing workers in Missouri and Illinois went on strike on August 4, demanding wage increases, changes to working hours, and the reinstatement of the eliminated pension fund. The protest, now entering its second week, has halted production at three key plants in the St. Louis area —facilities critical for the manufacture of aircraft essential to U.S. defense strategy. Union sources indicate that the disruption is also affecting the Everett, Washington, assembly line where the KC-46A is built.
Although Boeing has assured that military deliveries will remain a priority and that it has “contingency plans” in place, it is warned that a prolonged conflict could delay pending lots, including the 12 KC-46As scheduled for 2025. Such delays would force the USAF to extend the operational life of its veteran KC-135 Stratotankers, with the corresponding additional costs and logistical challenges.
The KC-46A is a strategic asset for U.S. power projection, capable of simultaneously refueling fighters such as the F-35 and F/A-18, as well as larger platforms like the B-2 bomber or the E-3 AWACS. It also integrates cargo and personnel transport, medical evacuation capabilities, and advanced defense systems, including electronic countermeasures and missile protection (DIRCM).
As the USAF advances toward its target of 153 contracted KC-46As, it has already allocated $7 billion for the development of autonomous aerial refueling technologies under the KC-Z program —a step that could eventually relegate the Pegasus to a secondary role in the future.
The fleet of 95 operational units reflects the resilience of the program, but Boeing’s labor crisis exposes its vulnerability to external factors. With pending contracts and allies such as Japan and Israel awaiting deliveries, a swift resolution of the conflict will be decisive in maintaining U.S. air superiority.
