WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after Boeing and Pratt and Whitney successfully completed the first test flight of the KC-46 ‘Pegasus’ tanker, which is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PW4062 engine. If the Air Force’s KC-46 tanker program is fully exercised, Pratt & Whitney will manufacture as many as 368 PW4062 engines by 2027. 

“Today’s successful flight is a testament to the hard work and expertise of the Pratt & Whitney employees in East Hartford and Middletown who took part in producing the engine for the KC-46 tanker. This engine – one of the most reliable and cost-effective in the world – will be essential to the Air Force’s critical mission of refueling U.S. and allied aircraft all over the world. I applaud Pratt & Whitney for their continued commitment to excellence and innovation in manufacturing.”

The KC-46 Pegasus is a U.S. multirole tanker than can refuel U.S. aircraft as well as allied aircraft. The KC-46 Pegasus is based off the successful Boeing 767 and will replace the KC-135 Stratotanker that has been in service since the 1950s.