Israel Air Force to Update Fleet With Two More KC-46 Tankers

Israel plans to strengthen its air fleet with two more Boeing KC-46 tankers, adding to the four already on order.

According to Janes, Israel’s procurement delegation has been instructed to sign the contract with the U.S. government once it is cleared by the Defense Interdepartmental Procurement Committee.

The tankers will be fitted with Israeli systems and adapted to the specific requirements of the Israeli Air Force.

The deal is valued at about $500 million and will be financed through U.S. military aid.

In 2020, the United States approved the sale of up to eight KC-46 aircraft to Israel. In August 2022, the Pentagon signed a $930 million contract with Boeing for delivery of the first four aircraft by the end of 2026.

The new KC-46s are expected to replace Israel’s aging Boeing KC-707s, which remain in use.

While Israel has not disclosed how many KC-707s are still operational, commercial satellite imagery from December 2024 showed at least five parked at Nevatim Airbase.

Analytics firm Cirium estimates the average age of Israel’s KC-707 fleet at 50.3 years.

Alongside the KC-707s, Israel operates seven Lockheed Martin KC-130 aircraft.

Those aircraft have an average age of 49.1 years, underscoring the need to modernize Israel’s refueling fleet.

Israel has not yet received the four KC-46s previously ordered. The U.S. Air Force is the main operator, with 98 of the aircraft already in service.

Japan is also its customer. Last year, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of nine KC-46A tankers to Japan.