Israel Air Force asks to swap four KC-46 tanker aircraft instead of two

• Author: ANNA AHRONHEIM
• Published date: 12 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The US State Department approved the possible sale of up to eight KC-46 tanker aircraft and related equipment to Israel for an estimated cost of $2.4 billion last March, marking the first time that Washington has allowed Jerusalem to buy new tankers.

Israel was set to receive two of the Boeing-made planes by late 2023, and during former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's last visit to Washington, he raised the issue that two of the eight tankers be supplied in the next year.

But now, according to Defense Ministry sources, senior IAF officers have requested the supply be sped up and that four of the KC-46 tankers be supplied in the next two to three years.

Though the agreement has not yet been signed despite the IAF having selected the KC-46 as the fleet's future tankers, sources in the defense ministry have explained that the negotiation is still ongoing as there are "many details relating to the order that have yet to be completed before being signed."

The Jerusalem Post has learned that one of the reasons for the delay in signing the contract was that though the IAF had initially requested that two of the tankers earmarked for the US Air Force be swapped, they are now trying to have four tankers swapped instead of two.

Defense Ministry officials have confirmed that they are hoping to get the final details and sign the contract soon.

According to sources, the call was made after Israel's aging tanker fleet was grounded last year.

The KC-46 tankers, which will replace Israel's Ram (Boeing 707) tanker aircraft that are required for long-range missions and nearing the age of 60.

Israel's fleet of Ram planes, the number of which remains confidential, are former civilian aircraft adapted for military uses such as aerial refueling for fighter jets, as well as its fleet of transport aircraft.

The new KC-46 tankers can refuel jets with 1,200 gallons of fuel per minute by its fly-by-wire 55-ft. refueling boom. It also can have wing air refueling pods allowing three jets to be refueled at once within three to four...