KC-46A PEGASUS

Next generation aerial refueler

- TED CARLSON/FOTODYNAMICS.COM

"LIVE FREE OR DIE" is the motto of New Hampshire, one of the 13 original U.S. colonies. New Hampshire's 157th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) was chosen as the first Air National Guard (ANG) unit to field the new Boeing Pegasus. The KC-135R was a major success for the unit, and New Hampshire was instrumental in maintaining solid mission readiness rate performance. With the demise of the KC-10A and now with the stalwart Stratotanker entering the sunset years, the KC-46A has become a welcome addition to the U.S. inventory.

New Hampshire actually has two flying squadrons that fall under the 157th ARW umbrella, those being the 133rd ARS "Wildcats" and the 64th ARS "Phoenix." While the 133rd ARS is an ANG unit, the 64th is an active-duty associate unit: it stood back up in July of 2022 and will bring 159 new "embedded" members to Pease ANGB. The two squadrons are essentially melded and function as one squadron although the 64th ARS falls under the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base for their the administrative/financial structure.

As for the new kid on the block, are there "new aircraft" teething issues? Yes, but what new recent program is free of issues? And issues will be resolved as the program matures (such as the F-35, V-22, and so on).

Enhancements are being made and within a few years, the aircraft bugs should mostly be worked out. Rather than dwell on the bugs, let's explore what the KC-46A brings to the table.