Tel Aviv: Israel Ministry of Defence (IMOD) will sign a contract for two additional Boeing KC-46A refueling aircraft.
Director General, Maj Gen (Res.) Amir Baram, instructed the IMOD Mission to the US to sign the contract with the US Government to procure the fifth and sixth refueling aircraft for the Air Force, manufactured by Boeing, once approval of the Israel Defence Procurement Ministerial Committee is obtained.
This is a follow-on contract with the US Government for procuring two advanced refueling aircraft in addition to four previously purchased KC-46 aircraft. This will expand the IDF’s new refueling fleet to six aircraft. The new aircraft will be equipped with Israeli systems and adapted to the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) operational requirements.
The contract’s scope is estimated at approximately half a billion USD and is funded through US aid. It represents a significant milestone in the extensive force buildup that the IMOD is conducting for the IDF.
IMOD Director General, Maj Gen (Res.) Amir Baram, commented, “The fifth and sixth refueling aircraft will strengthen the IAF – the IDF’s long-range strategic arm – enabling it to reach distant theaters with greater force and scope. We will continue to work together to strengthen the IDF in the current campaign and toward future challenges.”
President of Boeing Israel, Maj Gen (Res.) Ido Nehushtan, stated, “Boeing takes pride in its longstanding partnership with Israel, a relationship that dates back to the nation’s establishment. The KC-46A tanker aircraft will provide the world’s most advanced multi-mission aerial refueling capability to the IAF.”
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
