Overview
- The 134th Air Refueling Wing is slated to receive eight KC-46A aircraft beginning in 2031, pending final approvals.
- The Pegasus would replace the wing’s KC-135 Stratotankers and add mixed boom/drogue refueling, greater cargo and aeromedical capacity, and secure communications.
- The designation is a preferred basing decision that must complete an environmental impact analysis before it can be finalized.
- Recent upgrades at McGhee Tyson include a new 10,000-foot runway costing $134 million and a $32.4 million KC-46-capable maintenance hangar.
- Tennessee leaders who lobbied for the mission cite job protection and economic benefits, as the Guard plans phased construction and training to transition.