Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 4, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 4, 2026
1st of 6 new Boeing KC-46 refueling planes ordered by Israel completes 1st flight test in US
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
A Boeing KC-46 that is set to be delivered to Israel during a flight test, in a handout photo issued on May 4, 2026. (Boeing)
The first of six new Boeing KC-46 refueling planes that Israel has ordered completed a first flight test in the United States, the Defense Ministry announces, ahead of its delivery next month.
The KC-46 aircraft are to replace the Israeli Air Force’s current fleet of aging Boeing 707s refueling planes, which played a key role in Israel’s wars against Iran.
The ministry says the tankers will be “equipped with Israeli systems and adapted to the operational requirements of the Air Force, enabling it to extend flight range and maintain air superiority across all arenas.”
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