The Volunteer State has been named to host the future KC-46A Pegasus Main Operating Base 7, the United States Air National Guard announced last week. McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base near Knoxville, TN, was selected as the preferred location for the future aerial tankers as part of the Department of the Air Force’s ongoing aircraft recapitalization efforts.
The base was named as one of the seven ANG locations for the potential upgrade, and the DAF will move forward with replacing the 134th Air Refueling Wing’s aging fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers with eight next-generation in-flight refuelers. McGhee will become the third ANG to host the KC-46A, following basing at New Hampshire’s 157th ARW at Pease ANGB and Alabama’s 117th ARW at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, the ANG explained.
“This is a transformational moment for our Airmen, our wing, and our state,” said Col. Ronald Selvidge, commander of the 134th Air Refueling Wing. “The KC-46 will significantly expand our operational reach and ensure we remain a critical enabler of global mobility and combat power projection for decades to come. Our selection is a direct reflection of the professionalism, hard work, and unwavering commitment of the men and women of the 134th.”
The KC-46A – The Air Force’s Flying Fuel Station
In July, the United States Air Force opted to forgo plans that would have seen multiple companies competing to build new aerial refueling tankers. Instead, the service announced last week that it will procure 75 new KC-46 Pegasus aircraft.
“As the global environment evolves, so must we,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak, acting director, Air National Guard. “The KC-46’s advanced capabilities, increased reliability, and enhanced operational reach make us better able to meet this critical moment and the demands of tomorrow. The 134th ARW is a great fit for this responsibility.”
Development of the KC-46A Pegasus began in 2011, based on the Boeing 767 jet airliner. It was selected by the U.S. Air Force as the winner of the KC-X tanker competition to replace the aging Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, and the first Pegasus was delivered to the service in January 2019.
It can accommodate a mixed load of passengers, as well as aeromedical evacuation and cargo capabilities. The tankers are equipped with a refueling boom driven by a fly-by-wire control system and will be capable of the “fuel offload rates” required by the Air Force’s larger aircraft.
Fuel can be pumped via the boom, as well as drogue and wing aerial refueling pods, to support Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and partner nation receivers.
The KC-46A is climate-controlled and equipped with a kitchen, crew bunks, and a lavatory. The cargo area’s configurability allows the placement of airline-style seats, along with additional sleeping areas to accommodate larger crews. For long-endurance missions, a palletized kitchen and a second lavatory can be installed to support larger crews.
Two high-bypass turbofans power the KC-46A to take off at gross weights up to 415,000 pounds. Depending on fuel storage configuration, the aircraft can carry a palletized load of up to 65,000 pounds of cargo.
“Tankers are the backbone of our mobility enterprise,” said Pirak. “With the Air National Guard already executing a significant portion of the Air Force’s refueling missions, the addition of the KC-46 equips our Guard Airmen with a more resilient, more capable platform to support the full spectrum of operations and amplifies our ability to provide rapid global mobility whenever and wherever the nation needs us.”
Tennessee is Ready
Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn praised the announcement, noting that it will help preserve more than 1,500 jobs and the $203 million the base brings to the local economy annually.
“McGee Tyson Air National Guard Base has a long, distinguished record of excellence, and today’s announcement reaffirms what we’ve known all along,” said Blackburn. “Designating McGhee Tyson as a main operating base for the KC-46 Pegasus will strengthen our national security by providing rapid access to key operational areas at home and abroad while supporting jobs for Tennesseans.:
The 134th ARW will remain a critical part of the Air Force’s global refueling mission. The Wing has long provided aerial refueling to the United States Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, and allied nations’ aircraft, while also supporting emergency and disaster response efforts at home and abroad. Continuing this mission for years to come was a strategic objective for the Tennessee Air National Guard.
“This is an incredible win for Tennessee!” said Brig. Gen. Lee Hartley, assistant adjutant general for Air, Tennessee National Guard. “This multi-year effort stands as one of the best examples of what can be achieved when an entire community unites behind a mission … and we are deeply grateful for their advocacy on our behalf. This decision ensures that our state and country will be served for decades to come by Tennessee Airmen that are second to none.”
In recent years, the 134th ARW has undertaken significant upgrades to accommodate the KC-46 Pegasus, including a newly constructed 10,000-foot runway as part of a $134 million upgrade. Alongside it stands a $32.4 million maintenance hangar, explicitly designed to house and service the KC-46 aircraft.
