KC‑46a Pegasus completes historic global endurance flight

The KC-46A Pegasus tanker successfully completed a 45-hour westward round-the-world flight. According to the U.S. Army, this was the first such flight for the KC-46A. The flying tanker began and concluded its journey at McConnell Air Force Base. The flight was conducted as part of the Maximum Endurance Operation (MEO), which aims to extend aircraft missions by providing enhanced capabilities and increased range over significant distances.

"Maximum Endurance Operation is about overcoming the tyranny of distance: with a 48-hour duty day, you can fly around the entire world," noted Captain Cody Donahue, executive director of the 22nd Operations Group, which has been planning Project Magellan for months. "In this era of great power competition, crews need the ability to operate longer than ever before, and Project Magellan is another step in preparing AMC [Air Mobility Command - ed.] crews for the groundbreaking MEO construct."

The KC-46 Pegasus is a flying tanker based on the Boeing KC-767 and is designated as the successor to the KC-135 Stratotanker. Boeing presents the aircraft as the world's most advanced multi-mission aerial refuelling tanker. It differs from its predecessors by transporting more fuel, offering greater range, and being able to take off from shorter runways than the KC-135.

The KC-46 Pegasus's construction and equipment are noteworthy. The aircraft features an armoured cockpit and protection against chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks, enabling it to operate in challenging conditions. It is equipped with advanced communication systems, including the ABMS (Advanced Battle Management System), which allows for rapid transmission of tactical information necessary for airborne commanders to make decisions.

The primary role of the KC-46 Pegasus is mid-air refuelling of aircraft. The flying tanker can refuel various aircraft, including F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, and F-35 fighters, B-1 and B-2 bombers, as well as transport aircraft such as the C-130 and C-135, or tiltrotor aircraft like the V-22 Osprey. In addition to refuelling, the KC-46 can be utilised to transport personnel or cargo. In this role, it performs exceptionally well; as Boeing notes, the KC-46 can carry as many palletised loads as the heavy military transport aircraft C-17.