Overview
- The KC-46A Pegasus nicknamed “Gideon” landed at Nevatim Airbase and was formally absorbed into a newly inaugurated refueling squadron on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
- Gideon is the first of six KC-46 tankers bought through Israel’s procurement mission in the United States and will begin replacing the Israeli Air Force’s decades-old Boeing 707 Re’em tankers.
- The Israel Defense Forces released video and radio communications of the arrival, including comments from the squadron commander, Lt. Col. A., who called the aircraft a “force multiplier” and thanked procurement and integration teams.
- U.S. support and Boeing fixes to known KC-46 problems helped enable the delivery; planned technical upgrades include the Remote Vision System 2.0, which provides high-definition stereoscopic imagery for boom operators to improve refueling visibility.
- Five more KC-46s remain to be delivered, and the IAF says the new fleet will let fighters and other aircraft operate farther and longer, changing how Israel plans and sustains long-range missions.