US KC-46A Pegasus certified to refuel RAAF Wedgetail

First delivered in 2019, the KC-46A Pegasus is primarily used as a refueller, but it also has greater cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities than the ageing KC-135 Stratotanker. The US Air Force intends to acquire a final fleet of 179 of the Boeing-made aircraft, with 89 already delivered.

The RAAF, meanwhile, has a fleet of six E-7A Wedgetail aircraft at RAAF Base Edinburgh, which effectively operate as a command and control centre in the skies.

“The RAAF is the original operator of the E-7A aircraft,” said Squadron Leader Owen Hamilton, flight commander at the Australian Research and Development Unit.

“We’ve already overcome many of the early challenges with the platform. That experience positions us to help guide our UK and US counterparts as they bring their Wedgetail fleets online.”

Testing took place under the direction of the 418th Flight Test Squadron’s Global Reach Combined Test Force.

A deployed RAAF E-7A was paired with a KC-46A for this certification, the first time the tanker has been certified to refuel a foreign aircraft of this type.

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“Bringing three nations together for testing presented challenges, including understanding the required processes for secure data sharing between the KC-46 and E-7A, two platforms that had never interfaced,” said the US Air Force. “Boeing, the mission partner and KC-46 program office, assisted the 418th FLTS with breaking down these barriers.”

Major Matthew Daughtery, a global reach test pilot with the 418th FLTS, added that sharing data and knowing was as critical as the certification itself.

“There were no existing benchmarks for this process, and the USAF and RAAF use different terminologies and procedures. Developmental testing is about finding a path to success – and this team proved it can be done.”

The RAF was also embedded in the testing campaign, gaining valuable early experience ahead of its own E-7A flight test program.

“This test represents the strength of collaboration and interoperability among our three nations,” said Squadron Leader Angus Lilly, RAF test pilot. “As we prepare to begin testing our own Wedgetail fleet, this early involvement is invaluable.”

Australian Aviation previously reported in March how the federal government granted Boeing Defence Australia a $569 million contract to enhance the RAAF’s fleet of Wedgetails.

The aircraft is based on the Boeing 737-700 platform and incorporates a variety of aircraft control and advanced radar systems. It combines long-range surveillance radar, secondary radar, and tactical/strategic voice and data communications systems to provide an airborne early warning and control platform.

During a standard mission, the E-7A Wedgetail can cover more than 4 million square kilometres, an area the size of Western Australia or the Northern Territory. It is capable of unlimited long-range deployment with in-flight refuelling.