The Strategic Airlift Capability fleet at Papa AB, Hungary, has exceeded 1,000 missions. In Boeing’s five years of support, it has achieved a 94 percent mission-capable rate on the C-17 Globemaster IIIs, states a Sept. 3 release. Ten NATO countries, as well as Finland and Sweden operate the SAC fleet of three C-17s, which is part of the consortium’s Heavy Airlift Wing. “The Boeing team has been an important member of the SAC family from the start and contributes invaluably to the HAW flying safe missions for the nations,” said airlift commander Royal Netherlands Air Force Col. Frank Rombouts. Boeing uses “a comprehensive performance-based logistics program” to provide maintenance, engineering, and spares, states the release. The company has more than 60 people supporting the consortium. (See Papa Knows Best.)
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
