Boom Malfunction Halts KC-46 Deliveries, Reports USAF

For a period extending over two months, the U.S. Air Force ceased to receive KC-46 tanker aircraft from Boeing due to the discovery of a fresh issue concerning the aircraft's boom during routine inspections. Thus far, Boeing has successfully delivered a total of 82 KC-46 tankers to the U.S. Air Force and an additional four to the Japan Air Self Defense Force. The decision to halt deliveries was made in March following an extensive fleet examination that revealed a broken lockwire on the boom gimbal nut. This component, the gimbal nut, is integral in facilitating movement across all axes of the boom, ensuring its maneuverability during aerial refueling operations. The service anticipates the next delivery by the end of the month.

"Deliveries were paused to allow for inspections of both production and fielded aircraft, ensuring the continued safety of the fleet and receivers," stated an Air Force spokesperson. "The Air Force has completed all aircraft inspections and has resumed the acceptance process. Two aircraft are currently  in the final inspection stages and are expected to be delivered by May 31, 2024."

In a statement, Boeing affirmed that it is "working closely with the customer to mitigate any impact to the fleet and remains committed to delivering the KC-46A with a focus on safety and quality." In addition to the recent pause, there were two other interruptions in KC-46 tanker deliveries during 2023. The first was caused by a quality problem originating from supplier Daher, while the second was linked to bureaucratic delays identified by the Air Force. Consequently, Boeing's deliveries to the Air Force for the year 2023 fell short by two tankers, totaling 12 instead of the expected 14, bringing the overall count to 80. As of 2024, Boeing has delivered only two tankers thus far.