On 24 April a Japanese source revealed plans to substantially expand the Japanese Self-Defence Force's (JSDF) airborne refuelling fleet through the acquisition of 13 additional Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling and strategic military transport aircraft, according to a report by the Aviation Week Intelligence Network.
The announcement was made on the same day that the JSDF’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) released two competitive tenders for airborne refuelling hoses, with deliveries scheduled for late March and May next year respectively. On 12 March the Central Air Base Group announced a competitive tender for commissioning simulator training for airborne refuelling/transport aircraft aircrew, with the contract also set to expire in late March 2025.
The JSDF initially announced that it would acquire three KC46A in late 2015 after a competitive tender process in which it was initially pitted against the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), but the latter company's bid was later withdrawn. Explaining the procurement decision, Japan’s Ministry of Defence said that the KC-46A ‘satisfied all mandatory requirements for the new airborne refuelling/transport aircraft’. The first of the four tankers that were eventually ordered was delivered in late 2021, making the nation the first international recipient of the aircraft.
Interest in the KC-46A has been growing internationally with the US Air Force awarding a US $2.3 billion (AU $3.5 billion) contract for 15 additional tankers in November last year, having earlier announced orders for 179 aircraft. In the same month the aircraft was showcased at the Dubai airshow, where company executives announced rising interest among Middle Eastern clients. Boeing revealed a net loss of US $128 million (AU $196 million) for the platform in the first quarter of 2024, but in late April announced that it expected an uptake in orders.
The orders also come against the backdrop of a recent acceleration of decade long efforts among the US and its Pacific allies to expand and integrate aerial refuelling capabilities. Since 2015 Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia and the US have upgraded and expanded their fleets, and Australian tankers have engaged in numerous joint refuelling exercises with United States forces, including F-35A, F-16 and F-22, P-8A, RC-135 and A-10C aircraft. In 2023 a US KC-135R refuelled a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15 in the East China Sea.
In 2021 the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the JASDF agreed to refuel each other’s aircraft to enhance interoperability between the two forces, with RAAF KC-30A tankers successfully refuelling JASDF Mitsubishi F-2 jets in April 2022, and JASDF F-15s in May 2023.