Forget the F-35: This Is the Plane the Air Force Desperately Needs

[rangerrebew]

September 12, 2018 
Forget the F-35: This Is the Plane the Air Force Desperately Needs

The KC-46 is entering service in the nick of time. In an era in which great power competition has re-emerged as the primary focus of U.S. national security planning, the demands on air mobility assets overall, but refueling tankers, in particular, are certain to increase.
by Dan Goure

Last week, the KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft passed one of its two final milestones prior to entering service with the U.S. Air Force. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  granted the platform a supplemental type certificate. The KC-46 had previously received the FAA’s amended type certificate which addressed its basic airworthiness and performance. This second certificate addresses the aircraft’s refueling and mission avionics systems. While the Pegasus still must be granted its military type certificate, which covers specialized military functions and systems, all testing required for this certificate has been accomplished.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/forget-f-35-plane-air-force-desperately-needs-31122

[SZonian]

Interestingly, that "glow" piece from NI failed to mention the problems this tanker has had...probably because Boeing is eating the cost overruns and not the taxpayers.   

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/19332/the-kc-46-pegasus-tanker-program-is-still-a-mess