The Defense Ministry and Israeli Air Force have purchased two additional KC-46 military aerial refueling aircraft from Boeing in a deal worth $500 million.
The order follows a 2021 agreement in which Israel bought four of the same aircraft for roughly $930 million. The first batch is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2026.
Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram instructed Israel’s procurement delegation in the United States to sign the new contract with U.S. government officials after it was approved Tuesday by the ministerial procurement committee.
In recent months, Israel Aerospace Industries lobbied to convert Boeing 767s into refueling planes for the Air Force, arguing the project would help preserve local expertise and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Defense industry sources told Ynet's sister publication Calcalist that relying solely on the KC-46 could jeopardize IAI’s future in this field.
Israel’s current refueling fleet, converted by IAI some 50 years ago, has been used in long-range operations, including against Houthi rebels in Yemen and during the 12-day war with Iran. The ministry said the new KC-46s will be modified with Israeli systems and purchased through U.S. military aid funds, which total $3.8 billion annually.