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The United States Air Force (USAF) has unveiled its fiscal year 2026 budgetary request, which includes plans to acquire more Boeing KC-46A Pegasus airborne tankers. The move comes under a $32.6 billion modernization fund aimed at ordering additional planes and upgrading existing jets. The KC-46s are the latest tanker aircraft in the US fleet, although they are still working through issues to achieve full mission capability.
Initially, the USAF expressed interest in developing a stealth tanker instead of procuring more KC-46s. This new tanker, known as the Next-Generation Aerial Refueling System (NGAS), was envisioned as having "some degree" of stealth to accompany fifth and sixth-generation aircraft from the US Air Force, Navy, Marines, and partner nations globally. However, due to cost considerations and strategic priorities, this plan is currently on hold.
The potential benefits of NGAS include refueling upcoming Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bombers or Boeing F-47 stealth fighters inside contested airspace—a strategic advantage for future combat operations. Despite these advantages, Air & Space Forces magazine reported that current budget documents propose substituting KC-46 upgrades for NGAS development with alternatives such as resilient connectivity and self-protection systems.
