While troubles still lingering, March ARB named as preferred location for Pegasus
On 27 January 2022, a new report was released by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) that the USAF and Boeing have to take serious steps and measurements to guarantee that the redesigned KC-46A Pegasus tanker’s troubled Remote Vision System (RVS) is fully developed and tested in an operational environment.
Until now the KC-46A's RVS has been a "Category One" (CAT1) deficiency. This, limiting one of its main capacities. The USAF has always proclaimed that the RVS did not consistently provide boom operators with clear imagery.
In certain lighting conditions because of day/night, the weather and/or shadows, the picture shown to the Pegasus's boom operator, could be difficult to see. Also, sometimes the picture appears to be out of proportion. This, making it more difficult for boom operators to safely guide the boom into a receiver aircraft without scratching or even damaging it.
Earlier, Scramble wrote about USAF's and Boeing's hampering Pegasus programme and deficiencies.
Almost simultaneously with the above released report, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) selected March Air Reserve Base (CA), as the preferred location to host the KC-46A Pegasus tankers in the future. Strikingly, the USAF choses to balance the west- and east coast with the new proposed tanker basing. The latest announcement made by the DAF involved MacDill AFB (FL).
It is expected that twelve KC-46As will replace KC-135R Stratotankers at March ARB. At this moment, active duty 912th Air Refueling Squadron and associate unit 336th Air Refueling Squadron are operating some sixteen KC-135R/Ts out of March.
Although a final basing decision will be made after an Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA), which is expected to take place in fall 2023, Grissom ARB (IN), and Tinker AFB (OK), are considered reasonable alternatives for basing KC-46As and will also undergo EIAs.
Photos by USAF