Israel to buy two more KC-46 refuelling aircraft
An artist's impression of a KC-46 in Israeli service. (Israeli MoD)
The Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 20 August that it plans to order two more Boeing KC-46 air-to-air refuelling aircraft in addition to the four already ordered.
It said its procurement delegation in the United States had been instructed to sign a contract with the US government after the deal was approved by the ministerial procurement committee.
The MoD added that the additional aircraft will be fitted with Israeli systems and adapted to Israeli operational requirements.
In 2020, the US approved the sale of up to eight KC-46s to Israel, and the US Department of Defense awarded Boeing a USD930 million contract in August 2022 to deliver the first four before the end of 2026.
The KC-46s will replace the Israeli Air Force's (IAF's) ageing Boeing 707 tankers. Israel is secretive about how many of these are still in service, but open-source satellite imagery shows five 707s at Nevatim Air Base in December 2024.
The US Air Force has denied that it provided aerial refuelling in support of Israel's Operation ‘Rising Lion' attack on Iran in June.
For more information, please seeIsrael cleared to buy Pegasus tanker aircraft .
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