Originally Posted by
aterpster
This is a modified design of the 767. This design did not include T/Rs by specification of the USAF. So, they didn't have to be removed.
It sort of depends on how you define 'remove'. The USAF didn't want thrust reversers on the new tanker. The T/R is basic on the 767, so we had the choice to either build as is - with the T/R deactivated - or get rid of the T/R and design a new fan cowl for the PW4000. Boeing decided to do the later - it saved some weight, but I doubt it saved much (if any) money as there were significant non-recurring costs involved.
A while back another potential customer came in and wanted to buy some KC-46s,
with reversers - no problem, just return to the original design, right? Not so fast - turns out as soon as the decision was made to get rid of the wiring and hydraulics for the T/Rs, much of the space that was opened up in the strut was filled with the extra wiring and such required for the KC-46 (bigger generators, additional wire shielding for HIRF/EMI, and stuff I can't talk about). So putting the T/Rs back on was cost prohibitive.