The KC-46A program’s first test aircraft arrived at Edwards AFB, Calif., Oct. 15, for two weeks of specialized trials, officials announced. The provisioned 767-2C, EMD-1, will undertake ground-effect characterization and fatigue testing in the fuel-receiver role. “For ground effects, Edwards … provides calm morning weather and long runways, including the lake beds, both are requirements to take the data,” Capt. Dylan Neidorff, KC-46 test operations engineer, said in a release. “For fuel on-load fatigue, Edwards has a top notch special instrumentation section [that] provides modifications to legacy tanker aircraft to support data collection on the 767-2C,” he added. Ground effect flights will aid in accurately replicating the KC-46’s characteristics in the flight simulator. For fueling checks, the aircraft’s durability will be put to the test receiving from both the KC-10 and KC-135. The first phase of developmental testing is largely conducted from Boeing’s production facilities in Washington, but will move to Edwards in 2016. The fully equipped KC-46A tanker flew for the first time in September, and extended its boom for the first time in flight earlier this month.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
