KC-46 Remove Vision System delayed until mid-2027

Boeing’s KC-46 Pegasus, a next-generation aerial refueling tanker based on its 767 platform, continues to be plagued by long-running delays and technical issues—most recently with RVS. The Air Force confirmed that the long-awaited RVS 2.0 upgrade will now likely be delayed until mid-2027, pushing the program more than three years behind its original schedule.

The KC-46 was initially conceived to replace aging tankers like the KC-135 and KC-10, boasting modern features, including a digital boom operation system that allows airmen to refuel aircraft from a forward station using cameras and sensors. That cutting-edge design has proven challenging to implement. The original RVS, developed by Collins Aerospace, has been riddled with problems—producing distorted or poorly lit imagery that can increase the risk of aircraft damage during refueling operations.

The Air Force has flagged the KC-46 for five Category 1 deficiencies—two of which relate directly to the vision system. As recently as this week, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin told Congress that RVS 2.0 remains “not optimal” and may require another 18 months of development. “It’s operating, it’s just not operating as we would expect it to,” he told the House Appropriations Committee.

Beyond the vision system, the KC-46 is still unable to refuel aircraft like the A-10 Warthog due to excessive boom stiffness. The tanker also hasn’t been certified to refuel the incoming E-7 Wedgetail command-and-control aircraft, creating further operational uncertainty.

Originally scheduled for March 2024, RVS 2.0 has been repeatedly delayed due to supply chain issues and FAA certification hurdles. Boeing has deferred all questions on the delay to the Air Force, while both organizations say they are exploring ways to mitigate the growing timeline.

With nearly $7 billion in cost overruns already sunk into the KC-46 program, critics are growing impatient with Boeing’s delivery of a tanker that remains, in Allvin’s words, “capable—but not optimal.” The Air Force is continuing to take delivery of the tankers despite the deficiencies, signaling a continued dependence on the program.