The last KC135s were produced in the 1960s and the Boeing KC46 was thr program to update and replace it.

It is a disaster.

The crisis continues as the refueler programs continue to crash and burn.

After the inspection, if any cracks are found, “the aircraft will undergo repairs before flying again,” the Air Force explained.

“The cracks were not found on any flight surfaces or hinges, but rather on the primary or secondary structures,” the Air Force told us. 

Boeing told us it is working to fix the problem.

“We are working closely with the customer to assess a potential issue on KC-46A aircraft and to mitigate any potential impact to the fleet and in-production airplanes,” the company told The War Zone after our inquiry about the cracks.

The Pegasus program has been beset by problems even before they were delivered. It was years behind schedule before the flying branch received its first KC-46A in January 2019.