On Monday, May 4, 2026, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that the U.S. company Boeing had made the maiden flight of the first of six KC-46A Pegasus tanker/transport aircraft ordered to date for the Israeli Air Force (Heyl HaAvir), which has received the local name Gideon.
Photos: Israeli Ministry of Defense
This aircraft is the first of six tanker aircraft procured by the IMOD Mission to U.S., and joins a wide-scale force buildup program managed by the IMOD on behalf of the IDF.
The tanker aircraft – designated “Gideon” in Hebrew – will be equipped with Israeli systems and adapted to the operational requirements of the Israeli Air Force, enabling it to extend operational range and maintain air superiority across all theaters.
Israeli Ministry of Defense
As a reminder, on May 16, 2019, the Israeli Ministry of Defense sent a Letter of Request (LoR) to the United States regarding the purchase of eight KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. On March 3, 2020, Israel received approval to purchase four aircraft, with an option for four more, in a package worth up to 2.4 billion USD. Then, in 2022, the first four were ordered, and on August 21, 2025, the purchase of two more for 500 million USD was approved, meaning that there is still a possibility of acquiring the final pair.
The new aircraft will replace the troublesome fleet of seven Boeing 707-3J6B(KC) Re’em tankers and, in addition, will relieve the four smaller KC-130H Karnaf aircraft in some missions.
Apart from the United States, which plans to field 263 aircraft (up from the original 183, of which 105 have already been delivered), and Israel, Japan has also decided to purchase the KC-46A (four delivered plus nine planned), while Italy has abandoned its plan to acquire six KC-46As. The United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Indonesia had previously expressed interest in the aircraft. They are also currently being promoted in India, and in previous years were offered to Poland (which ultimately will purchase four competing Airbus A330 MRTT+ aircraft), Canada, and South Korea.
Boeing plans to deliver around 19 aircraft in 2026, following technical problems in previous years.
Israel MOD Announces: “Gideon” Tanker Aircraft Completes Its Maiden Flight in U.S. Skies
Read More: https://t.co/YwZ41yOO5Q pic.twitter.com/qcFN5aRuCD
— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) May 4, 2026
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