Posted on 02/10/2016 1:27:05 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
After refusing to sell Israel new planes for several years, mostly for fear that Israel would turn around and go bomb Iran with them, the White House now agreed in principle to let Israel buy the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus, using the US security assistance package. According to Walla, the Dept. of Defense initially offered Israel to purchase older models, to make room on its shelves for the new merchandize, but Israel refused, and started spreading hints that if Obama won’t give her what she needs, she can always get it from the next tenant in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. So last month the Americans gave in.
The Boeing KC-46A Pegasus is a wide-body, multi-mission tanker aircraft with a cargo deck above the refueling system, which can accommodate a mixed load of 40 passengers and patients as well as cargo. The tanker can be refueled by another tanker in mid-air.
According to sources in Israel’s defense apparatus, the deal could not have happened before the signing of the Iran nuclear agreement, because it could have easily become a deal breaker for Tehran, what with the specs of the KC-46A, especially since it has a range of 7,350 miles with in flight refueling.
Israel expects to start taking delivery as early as 2019, at this point buying a pair of the tanker planes. Each Pegasus will cost $188 million, but the added, Israeli in-house systems will bring the cost up to around a quarter billion each. But it’s well worth the expense, not only in terms of the Pegasus’ operational capacity, but because the current IAF fleet of tankers is ancient and their maintenance is very costly.
Having the new tankers onboard would make long distance missions easier, since the IAF attackers would have the luxury of picking more convenient routes.
The KC-46A has a maximum speed of Mach 0.86 (650 mph), and cruise speed of Mach 0.80 (530 mph), with an altitude ceiling of 40,100 ft. It handles a maximum takeoff weight of 415,000 lbs, with a maximum transfer fuel load of 207,672 lbs.
I think Isreal would have gotten a better deal if they waited for President Cruz or Trump.
They will still need to “wait” for the new President to sign off on any package. This is just an initial OK.
Unless we are talking of an emergency transfer, which doesn’t make sense the KC-46 is a brand-new system yet to be exported, it will take Israel at least 1-2 years to PREPARE to receive the new tankers. Might as well start early.
They're getting it and we're paying for it. What better deal could President Cruz or President Trump give them?
Elephant in the room: Iran.
If you'd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
“I think Israel would have gotten a better deal if they waited for President Cruz or Trump.”
Which is probably why they broke down and agreed to transfer now. At least they can collect a little baksheesh on the deal before they are out of office.
“KC-46 is a brand-new system yet to be exported”
And still at least a year away from delivery to its primary user, the USAF, iirc
“What better deal could President Cruz or President Trump give them?”
The cost per unit still matters given that the security package is a finite amount.
So you think President Trump or President Cruz could get the cost down? Or raise the security package amount?
Read the story. The tankers are coming out of the military assistance package. Israel isn't paying for them. We are.
So true. And on the other side of the bargaining table, I guess the Israel’s urgency in getting what it needs outweighs waiting for the next Prez. :/
I did read the story. Three times now.
In all likelihood it probably wasn’t about waiting for the next President. It was about going with the Airbus option.
Ah! Good point!
Then you know it isn't their shekels, it's ours. And short of ordering more I don't see how a President Trump or a President Cruz could have gotten the price lower. Israel had the chance to get their solution at a cheaper price by buying an older model and they declined.
Well, then there’s not point in discussing with you any further.
Doesn't get much better than free. Israel Aerospace Industries already offers tanker conversions of commercial aircraft, but the Israelis would have to pay hard money for them.
The Boeing built KC-46A will come out of the annual military aid money that the U.S. gives to Israel every year, but can only be spent on U.S. built products.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.