Latest news with #KC-46
Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Boeing, Boeing Gone?
In the annals of American industrial might, Boeing has long stood as a symbol of engineering excellence and national pride—pioneering jet travel, dominating the skies, and contributing to military superiority. But in recent years, the aerospace giant has found itself grounded—figuratively and literally. A combination of fatal crashes, production faults, regulatory clashes, and executive turmoil have battered the company's reputation and balance sheet. The Alaska Airlines door plug blowout in early 2024 and relentless media scrutiny added further fuel to a narrative of decay. To many, Boeing became a cautionary tale of what happens when engineering takes a back seat to financial priorities. But in markets, especially those as cyclical and sentiment-driven as aerospace, despair often precedes opportunity. Could this be one of those times? Could the market be underestimating Boeing's path to redemption—and the value waiting on the runway? It is certainly a question being considered by Laurium Capital's global research team. Let's look at the wreckage before we consider the recovery. Financially, Boeing is still operating in the red. The company has made annual losses since 2019 and forecasts for 2025 remain negative. For a company once known for predictable profitability, this is sobering. Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS), previously a bulwark, has suffered through years of charges tied to troubled contracts such as the KC-46 tanker and Starliner. Though the first quarter of 2025 showed no new charges, margins in this business segment remain fragile. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads And yet, there are signs that Boeing is slowly rebuilding altitude. Most notably, the company is progressing in ramping up production of its workhorse 737 MAX. Production rates are stabilizing around 38 planes per month with a pathway toward 42 by early 2026 and potentially even 47 within the year. This recovery in production volumes is critical, as the 737 MAX remains a key earnings and cash flow driver. Likewise, the 787 Dreamliner, one of the most advanced commercial planes ever built, is expected to see material upticks in production numbers by the end of the year. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads CEO Kelly Ortberg, appointed to steady the ship, has instilled a focus on execution and engineering discipline. His message at a recent conference which the Laurium global research team attended was one of pragmatism: Boeing isn't rushing to launch a new aircraft but is instead laser-focused on delivering existing programs reliably, clearing certification hurdles, and winning back customer confidence. Importantly, this potential upside is not just about numbers—it's about sentiment. Boeing is still something of a 'momentum stock.' Its share price has historically surged ahead of fundamentals when the market senses an inflection point. The company's history bears this out: rapid climbs in 2017 and 2021 occurred before tangible improvements in earnings. Today, investors may again be positioning ahead of a visible operational turnaround. Risks, of course, remain. Supply chain hiccups could stall the ramp-up. Further FAA scrutiny could introduce delays. And geopolitical flashpoints—especially concerning deliveries to China—could bite. Boeing's past overpromises linger in investor memory. The road to recovery is rarely linear. Still, the building blocks are taking shape. Boeing's enormous backlog—somewhere close to half a trillion dollars—isn't going anywhere. Neither is global demand for fuel-efficient jets in a rapidly ageing fleet environment. Liquidity has improved, management is steadier, and the execution narrative is shifting from apology to progress. For investors with the stomach for turbulence, Boeing might just be preparing for a long-overdue ascent. DM advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads For more information on Laurium's Global Active Equity Fund, please visit Laurium Capital is an authorised financial services provider (FSP 34142)
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KC-46 vision system upgrade slips to 2027, 3 years behind schedule
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The KC-46 Pegasus refueling tanker's troubled remote vision system is now unlikely to see a replacement upgrade until summer 2027, the Air Force said, putting the Boeing program more than three years behind schedule. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed in an email Wednesday that the current projection for fielding the system, known as RVS 2.0, is roughly two years away, but did not say what is causing the latest schedule slip. Boeing referred questions to the Air Force. 'The Air Force and Boeing are exploring opportunities to prevent or mitigate the slip in schedule,' the spokesperson said. Older refueling tankers like the KC-10 Extender and KC-135 Stratotanker require boom operators to look through a window in the back while steering a boom into the receiving aircraft. KC-135 boom operators must lie on their stomachs while doing so. When the KC-46 was designed, it promised a major change to how that work is done. Boom operators in the Pegasus sit in stations towards the front of the tanker and use cameras, sensors and screens to guide the refueling boom. But the KC-46's original Collins-made remote vision system was beset by problems from the start. That faulty vision system does not respond quickly enough to changing sun and shadows, and sometimes produces a distorted image, which the Air Force fears could lead to receiving aircraft getting hit and damaged by the boom. Boeing developed a replacement, dubbed RVS 2.0, that uses a series of sensors, screens and 4K ultrahigh-definition cameras to produce a 3D, full-color image for boom operators. RVS 2.0 was initially supposed to be released in March 2024. That deadline has slipped multiple times, due to supply chain problems and delays in the Federal Aviation Administration's airworthiness certification process. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin told lawmakers Tuesday that the KC-46 now has five category 1 deficiencies, two of which stem from its remote vision system. Allvin predicted RVS 2.0 might need another 18 months of work. 'It's operating, it's just not operating as we would expect it to,' Allvin told the House Appropriations Committee. The KC-46's stiff refueling boom is also a lingering problem, Allvin said. The tanker still cannot refuel the A-10 Warthog because of that boom stiffness issue, he said, and the service hasn't tested the KC-46 with the E-7 Wedgetail the service plans to bring into its fleet. Allvin said that a week ago, he and Air Mobility Command head Gen. Jon Lamontagne met with Boeing Defense, Space and Security head Steve Parker, go 'line-by-line' through the outstanding major problems with the KC-46. 'It is capable; it's not optimal,' Allvin said.
CBS News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
What to know about the Red Sox Home Opener at Fenway Park
The Boston Red Sox opened the 2025 season with seven games on the road, but will finally take the field at Fenway Park on Friday when they open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Friday will be the 114th Red Sox home opener at Fenway Park, and it looks like fans will be treated to a gorgeous day at the beloved ballpark. Gates will open at 12:10 p.m., and fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 1:30 p.m. to enjoy the pregame festivities the organization has planned. Things are looking up as the Red Sox come home after a 3-4 start to the season. Boston dropped three of four in its opening series against the Texas Rangers, but then took two of three against the Orioles in Baltimore. Alex Cora is hoping his team will fare much better at home in 2025 than they did last season. Boston was just 38-43 at Fenway Park in 2024, one of just 10 MLB teams to finish below .500 on their home field. The Red Sox open the home portion of their season Friday, April 4 against the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m., with a lot of pregame entertainment planned for the big day in Boston. When the Red Sox and Cardinals are introduced along the baselines, the colors will be presented by the 1st Battalion and 181st Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts National Guard, the 66th Air Base Group out of Hanscom Air Force Base, and members of the 1st Coast Guard District. The National Anthem will be performed by the "Treble Allstars" of the Boston Arts Academy, and will be punctuated by a fly-over by two F-35's flown by the 134th Fighter Squadron, Green Mountain Boys of the Vermont Air National Guard, and one KC-46 from the New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing. The Red Sox will hold a pregame ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1975 team, which won the American League pennant before losing the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds -- the Big Red Machine -- in a hard-fought seven-game series. Fred Lynn (who won Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in 1975), Carlton Fisk ( whose big swing at Fenway Park forced a deciding Game 7 against Cincinnati), and Jim Rice will likely be in attendance, and we'll see if Carl Yastrzemski is well enough to be at the ballpark. The team will also remember Red Sox Hall of Famer Luis Tiant, who passed away last October at the age of 83. "El Tiante" and his unique windup spent eight of his 19 MLB seasons in Boston and won 122 games with the Red Sox. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 1:30 p.m. to enjoy the ceremony. There's no word on who will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, but it will likely involve the 1975 team or Tiant's family. Right-hander Walker Buehler will be on the hill for the Red Sox for the home opener, which will be his second start for the team. Buehler was tagged with a loss in his first career start for Boston last week, after he surrendered four earned runs off seven hits (including a homer) in a 4-3 Red Sox defeat at the hands of the Texas Rangers. Friday will be his first-ever start at Fenway Park. Buehler will be opposed by St. Louis righty Erick Fedde, who is 1-0 on the year after tossing innings of one-run ball in his first start against the Minnesota Twins. The better question is which concessions aren't available at Fenway Park? Red Sox fans can pick from a diverse array of food when checking out a ballgame, from your typical baseball foods such as hot dogs and popcorn to some more much extravagant options like clam chowder, a lobster roll, and burrito bowls. There's a big buffet of new options to munch on at Fenway Park this year, including the PIG MAC sandwich(mac and cheese, pulled pork, and bacon strips on sourdough), Pineapple Bacon Sausage, and ICEE frozen beverages. Click here to see where you can get all the different concessions at Fenway Park.
Boston Globe
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Red Sox to honor Luis Tiant, members of 1975 team at Friday's home opener
The Red Sox held a similar ceremony ahead of the 2015 home opener, marking the 40th anniversary of the 1975 team's run to the World Series. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up First pitch for Friday's opener against St. Louis is set for 2:10 p.m., and the Red Sox encourage fans to be in their seats by 1:30 p.m. in order to see the full pregame ceremony, which will feature a fly-over by three military aircrafts: two F-35s and one KC-46. Advertisement The full pregame ceremony will be broadcast as part of NESN's pregame coverage, which begins at noon. Friday's pregame ceremony kicks off a month packed with fan-engagement activities. On Monday, Red Sox players and coaches will join Mayor Michelle Wu and Red Sox executives to distribute 40,000 hats to Boston Public Schools students in Kindergarten through 8th grade, an annual tradition since 2017. Advertisement Other events include Little League Opening Day (April 12), a fan photo on the warning track (April 20), theme nights (April 6, 9, 28, 19, and 22), and giveaways (April 7, 21, and 24). Emma can be reached at
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Forbes Field becomes finalist to house new military aircraft
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Forbes Field is set to host some visitors in early April who will survey the airport to see if it can house a massive military aircraft in the near future. The 190th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) announced in a press release on Monday, March 31 that it will be welcoming a site survey team made up of members from the National Guard Bureau and U.S. Air Force (USAF) in April who will determine if Forbes Field is capable of being a new base for the KC-46A Pegasus. Forbes Field is one of seven finalists being considered to house the massive military refueling aircraft. 'The KC-46 brings more capability than just fuel to aerial warfare,' said Col. Kent Crane,Commander, 190th ARW. 'This is critical for our Airmen and aircrew who would be fighting in potential future conflicts.' The 190th ARW said the potential for Forbes Field to house the KC-46A Pegasus would lead to a 'significant impact' on the 190th ARW and the local community. It would lead to new opportunities for collaboration and enhance the economic and strategic impact of the organization in the region. Food shipment to Harvesters canceled amid DOGE cuts 'It's always exciting getting to showcase the 190th, especially the members of the 190th because they're so adaptable, they're innovative, and they excel at everything they do,' said Col. Marjorie Durkes, Deputy Commander, 190th ARW. 'It's so exciting to showcase not only the 190th but the Topeka community and how we've all come together around this.' A final decision on the new KC-46A Pegasus basing will come in the fall of 2025. The KC-46 Pegasus will replace the iconic KC-135 Stratotanker. The USAF describes the KC-46A Pegasus as the next step in revitalizing the aging U.S. tanker fleet. It is recognized for being able to provide greater refueling, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities as compared to the KC-135. The KC-46A Pegasus You can learn more about the aircraft and what it is used for by clicking here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
