Israel to purchase 2 more American KC-46 refueling planes for its Air Force

Israel’s Defense Ministry says it will procure two more KC-46 refueling planes from American aircraft manufacturer Boeing, in addition to four that are currently on order.

Defense Ministry director Amir Baram has instructed the ministry’s mission to the US to sign a contract with the US government to procure the fifth and sixth refueling aircraft for the Israeli Air Force, “once approval of the Israel Defense Procurement Ministerial Committee is obtained,” a statement reads.

The ministry says the deal will cost Israel approximately half a billion dollars, with the money coming from the $3.8 billion that Israel receives annually from Washington as part of the 10-year memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

In a statement, Baram said the aircraft “will strengthen the IAF, the IDF’s long-range strategic arm, enabling it to reach distant theaters with greater force and scope.”

Ido Nehushtan, president of Boeing Israel, said in the statement that the company “takes pride in its longstanding partnership with Israel, a relationship that dates back to the nation’s establishment.”

The sale of the initial four KC-46 was signed in 2022, though the aircraft have not yet been delivered. The deal allowed for Israel to purchase four more planes in the future.

The multi-role aircraft makes mid-air refueling possible for fighter jets, but can also be used for military transport.

The KC-46 aircraft are to replace the Israeli Air Force’s current fleet of aging refueling planes, which includes KC-130 Hercules and converted Boeing 707s, the latter of which played a key role in Israel’s war against Iran in June.