Why The KC-46 Pegasus Is Still The Most Controversial Aircraft In The US Military Inventory

The vast majority of the US Air Force and Air National Guard’s refueling wings are still flying the KC-135 Stratotanker, which was made in the Eisenhower era and is rapidly approaching an average of 70 years in age. Recent midair mishaps and structural wear have also made the KC-135 increasingly risky and complex to operate. Yet its replacement, the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, is highly controversial because it has suffered from severe design flaws, multi-billion-dollar cost overruns, and critical safety hazards. No military in human history has ever forced a mainline frontline aircraft to fly for seven decades. The fleet is…