Boeing proposes enhanced defenses for KC-46 tanker.

Boeing and Aurora Flight Sciences are developing new and advanced defensive capabilities for the KC-46 Pegasus and other future aerial refueling and mobility aircraft, as the Air Force considers whether to skip a competition for its next wave of tankers and buy more KC-46s. The Air Force is preparing for the possibility of a war against an advanced adversary such as China, which would involve fighting in heavily contested airspace. Boeing said having new defensive measures would make the Pegasus better able to survive in a high-end conflict, and the Air Force could choose to use these capabilities on multiple platforms.