Israel’s first Boeing KC-46 Pegasus has completed its maiden flight in the United States, with delivery expected within about a month, according to the Israel Ministry of Defense.
The aircraft, designated “Gideon” in Israeli service, is the first of six tankers ordered through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework.
Based on the Boeing 767 platform, the KC-46 combines aerial refueling and transport roles. It is equipped with a fly-by-wire refueling boom and wing-mounted hose-and-drogue pods, allowing it to support aircraft using different refueling systems in the same mission.
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The new tanker will gradually replace Israel’s fleet of Boeing 707-based tankers, some of which have been in service since the late 1970s. The current fleet also includes KC-130H aircraft, with both types approaching five decades of operational use.
Israel’s tanker force has played a central role in long-range operations, including missions conducted in 2025, where aerial refueling determined the range and persistence of strike aircraft. The transition to the KC-46 maintains a similar fleet size while addressing limitations related to age, maintenance and fuel efficiency.
The KC-46 can carry roughly 96 tonnes of fuel, most of which can be transferred in flight depending on mission requirements. In addition to refueling, it can transport cargo, passengers or be configured for aeromedical evacuation.
Israeli-specific systems are expected to be integrated into the aircraft, including communications and command-and-control capabilities tailored to national operational requirements, as well as compatibility with platforms such as the F-35I, F-15 and F-16.
The introduction of the KC-46 comes alongside plans to expand Israel’s combat fleet, including additional squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA fighters, both of which rely on aerial refueling to achieve full operational range.
