New tankers for the Italian Air Force
In July 2022, the Italian government published the most recent Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa (Defence Planning Document) for the three-year period 2022-2024.
The growth of the budget for the Armed Forces in general continues, set by the new document at 18 billion euros. One of the intentions of the Aeronautica Militare (ItAF, Italian Air Force) was to acquire two new KC-767A tanker aircraft to the latest configuration standard, based on the civilian Boeing 767-300 version currently in production at the Boeing company. Next to the acquiring of new KC-767As, the ItAF intended to modernize the current fleet of four KC-767As to the same standard as the new aircraft.
However, following the results received by a special commission intended to evaluate the project, the Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness (ARMAEREO) decided in November 2022 that the only viable solution to meet the need is to acquire six new aircraft at the standard of the KC-46A Pegasus currently under construction for the USAF. The new Italian tankers will be defined KC-767B.
The USAF selected the KC-46A as the winner in the KC-X tanker competition to replace the older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The first Pegasus was delivered in January 2019 and the USAF intends to procure 179 KC-46As by 2027.
The current KC-767A is based on the shorter commercial B767-200ER (Extended Range) version and were delivered between 2011 and 2012. The tankers are assigned to the 8° Gruppo (Squadron) of the 14° Stormo (Wing) and are based at Pratica di Mare air base near Rome.
Details of the current KC-767A fleet:
The programme will start in 2023 and will end in 2035. The total costst are valued at 1,1 billion euro and includes integrated logistic support for a period of five years and the acquisition of various accessory equipment for self-protection, datalink, communication, and other functions. During the same period, the four KC-767As will be returned to Boeing in exchange. A similar solution has already been adopted by Japan, which will also return its four KC-767Js and acquires six KC-46As.
Photo by Johan Mulder