Originally Posted by
Rwy in Sight
KenV,How much different is the US version of the tanker to the Italian or Japanese? I would have thought the US version and the Italian would share many specification - maybe as a part of the NATO specification.
Quite a bit different. KC-767 was based on 767-200ER. Indeed they were built as 767-200ER and then flown to a mod center where they were modified to tanker configuration. KC-46 is based on the 767-200LRF (Long Range Freighter) which has -200ER fuselage, -300F wing, landing gear, cargo door and floor, -400ER avionics with 787 displays, different refueling boom (KC-10 advanced refueling boom vs KC-135 refueling boom) and different WARP (wing aerial refueling pods) than Italian tanker (Japanese tanker had no WARP). And about 25 miles of additional wiring to accommodate new USAF "smart tanker" requirements. The combination above is why some apply the absurd "frankentanker" epithet to the KC-46.