Aerial refueling is a critical component of Israel’s ability to conduct operations far from its borders.
By United with Israel Staff
The Israeli Air Force has received its second new Boeing KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft, strengthening the military’s ability to conduct long-range operations across the Middle East.
The aircraft landed at Nevatim Airbase on Thursday and will join the Air Force’s new “Gideon” refueling squadron.
It is the second of six KC-46 tankers purchased from the United States through the Defense Ministry’s procurement mission as part of a broader effort to modernize the IDF’s capabilities.
The new aircraft will gradually replace Israel’s aging Boeing 707 “Re’em” tankers, some of which have been in service for nearly 60 years.
Aerial refueling is a critical component of Israel’s ability to conduct operations far from its borders, including in theaters such as Iran and Yemen, by allowing fighter jets and other aircraft to remain airborne over significantly greater distances.
The KC-46s are being equipped with advanced Israeli systems and adapted to meet the Air Force’s operational requirements.
The KC-46 Pegasus is among the most advanced aerial refueling aircraft currently in service. Israel is one of only a handful of countries operating the platform, alongside the United States and Japan.
Israel initially signed an agreement for four KC-46 aircraft in 2022 before later expanding the purchase to six.
The arrival of the second tanker marks another step in replacing the Air Force’s decades-old refueling fleet and expanding the IDF’s ability to sustain long-range air operations
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