Latest news with #KC-46Pegasus
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
30-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Michigan leaders say Selfridge's new flying mission supports Macomb County's economy
President Trump announced that a new fighter mission is coming to Selfridge Air National Guard Base. It's welcome news for the people who live and work on and around the base in Macomb County. According to Michigan leaders, Selfridge has an $850 million economic impact in Michigan. Twenty-one brand new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets will live here at Selfridge. "This will keep Selfridge at the cutting edge of North American air power," Trump said. The fighter jets will replace the A-10 Warthogs, and it's a big win for the base. "If we had not received this decision and announcement from the president yesterday, we would have lost the fighter flying mission," said Major General Paul Rogers. It means 600 people will keep their jobs. "They earn about $30 million a year that then gets spent largely within the community," Rogers said. The president gave Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a lot of credit for her work to make it happen. "I got to work with people that I don't agree with a lot, but at the end of the day, when you can see something like this happen. You see, it's all worth it," Whitmer said. The effort and announcement have bipartisan support and provide a boost for both military and civilian jobs. "It's going to attract more people to the area. It's going to maintain jobs and even possibly create more jobs. The possibilities are endless," Rep. Alicia St. Germaine, R-Harrison Township, said. "Anytime you get a new aircraft like that, you tend to expect to see contract support come in, especially early on, to help us get established and grow into the new mission, so it will have an increase in jobs for the local community," Rogers said. New hangers will need to be built for not only the jets but also aircraft important to the refueling mission. "We'll have construction jobs moving the runway and enhancing the runway performance. So in total, we're estimating it could be anywhere close to $500 million of construction work over the next 10 years at Selfridge," Rogers said. The new planes are expected to arrive at Selfridge in 2028, which means the base will be able to serve the community for decades. Mr. Trump added that his administration will continue plans to replace the outgoing KC-135 and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft to continue that important refueling mission at Selfridge. "They'll be restocked as brand new, top-of-the-line refuelers for generations of men and women of Selfridge who've always been here, and they've always been for us, whether you're Republican or Democrat," Trump said.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
If Boeing Drops the Ball on the F-47, This Giant Defense Stock Should Take the Contract
It's been less than a month now since Boeing's (NYSE: BA) big news: On March 31, President Donald Trump announced that Boeing has won a $20 billion contract (that's the expected minimum value) to build the U.S. Air Force's first-ever sixth-generation stealth fighter to be known as the F-47. In the weeks that have followed this announcement, which drove Boeing stock as high as $182 a share, the stock price has slumped considerably. Granted, most of the damage was probably done by the stock market's tariffs tantrum of early April. But still, when you consider that the F-47 contract will be worth billions of dollars to Boeing over the next few years, and could grow in value into the hundreds of billions of dollars over time, that fact that Boeing stock is now trading more than 10% below what it cost before the F-47 news broke... well, it's kind of a puzzler. Why aren't investors giving Boeing more credit for its big defense contract win? To understand why investors might be hesitant to reward Boeing fully for its victory, consider the company's history of fumbling the ball on similar high profile government contracts. In 2014, for example, Boeing stood alongside SpaceX as one of just two space companies picked to provide Commercial Crew service transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station. More than a decade later, SpaceX has flown astronauts to ISS nearly a dozen times already. Boeing has done so just once -- and then had to ask SpaceX for assistance getting its astronauts home again! Or consider the case of Boeing's 2011 win on the KC-X Tanker contract. Worth tens of billions, this award eventually turned into the KC-46 Pegasus contract for Boeing. But over the more than a decade that Boeing has been churning out the Pegasus for the Air Force, it's been forced to record more than $7 billion worth of losses on the program. Simply put, Boeing has a long history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and turning potentially lucrative contracts into PR and balance sheet nightmares through a combination of underbidding and poor program management. It's in this context that I took note last month of the surprisingly better performance produced by one of Boeing's biggest rivals on high profile military contracts like the F-47: Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC). In a column carried by Lexington Institute Vice President Dr. Rebecca Grant praised Northrop's performance on its $55 billion contract to build 100 B-21 stealth bombers for the Air Force, which is now entering its 10th year. "Smooth progress on the production line enabled the Air Force to negotiate lower rates for the B-21 bombers now in production," says Grant, citing $1 billion in cost reductions for building B-21s under the Pentagon's 2025 budget. Total costs over the next five years could be as much as 28% below initial forecasts. Note, however, that the bomber's original projected unit cost of $550 million in 2010 dollars has increased in nominal terms. In todays, inflation adjusted dollars, the unit cost is now expected to approximate $692 million. "Coming in under budget is a first for a stealth aircraft," as Grant points out. Just as remarkable is that the B-21 program is running on time, and not behind schedule. Northrop produced its first "production-representative" prototype in late 2022, and conducted its first test flight of the B-21 in late 2023. Low rate initial production of the aircraft began shortly thereafter, in January 2024, and Northrop has already been awarded contracts to build two production "lots" of aircraft. It's in the context of all the above that I began to wonder: What happens if cost overruns begin to run... "over" at Boeing on its F-47 stealth fighter contract, while figuratively next door, Northrop Grumman continues to churn out B-21 stealth bombers at below-estimated cost? Might the Air Force decide to terminate the one contract, and hand it over to the better contractor? Stranger things have happened. Already we're seeing the Space Force begin to favor contract awards to SpaceX, for example, over contracts to Boeing and its United Launch Alliance joint venture with Lockheed Martin. Whether or not this is how things play out, defense investors already have good reason to favor Northrop Grumman stock over Boeing. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Northrop is: Profitable at $4.2 billion in trailing earnings, versus unprofitable Boeing (negative $11.8 billion). Free cash flow positive with $2.6 billion in trailing FCF, versus cash-burning Boeing (negative $14.3 billion). Northrop has less than half of Boeing's debt ($14 billion net of cash on hand, versus $29.6 billion). Why, Northrop even pays a dividend! Not much, just 1.6%. But Boeing pays no dividend at all. I won't say Northrop Grumman is the best investment on the planet. In fact, by my admittedly conservative metrics, the stock still looks a little expensive. But if you're in the market for a defense stock in particular, you could still do a lot worse than buying Northrop Grumman stock. Before you buy stock in Northrop Grumman, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Northrop Grumman wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $502,231!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $678,552!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 800% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 156% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 14, 2025 Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. If Boeing Drops the Ball on the F-47, This Giant Defense Stock Should Take the Contract was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
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.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why there is no airshow at MacDill AFB this weekend
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)—The MacDill Air Force Base announced there is no air show this weekend after scam accounts said there was. According to MacDill AFB, they have been receiving numerous calls about an air show they saw from several accounts claiming to be the official Tampa Bay Airfest or MacDill AFB. 'Our page will never ask for personal information, payments, or send unsolicited messages. If you come across a suspicious page, do not engage and report it immediately,' MacDill AFB said in a post on Facebook. SpaceX Dragon launch to relieve stranded astronauts is delayed again The Tampa Bay Airfest is hosted by MacDill AFB and is usually held every year, but due to the installation of the KC-46 Pegasus, it has been on pause for the foreseeable future. Construction at the base has begun to extend the hangars and accommodate the large aircraft, MacDill AFB said. 'We know our community looks forward to AirFes, but the pause will bring the next generation of tanker aircraft to Tampa Bay,' MacDill AFB said. According to the Air Force, the KC-46 Pegasus is a tanker fleet that will provide aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and partner-nation receivers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
