Tanker Aircraft
Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP)
Program facts
- Program number
- 181
- Short name
- KC-135R
- Acquisition pathway
- Major Capability Acquisition (MCA)
- Lead component
-
Air Force
Department of Defense
- Contract awards
- 1,209
- Contract obligations
- $1,676,446,453 Since fiscal year 2004
Program details come from the Department of Defense's acquisition program list. Contract figures come from SAM.gov (formerly FPDS).
Contract obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Obligated |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$3,762,810 |
| FY2025 | $21,955,889 |
| FY2023 | -$171,817 |
| FY2022 | -$2,460,915 |
| FY2021 | $20,972,516 |
| FY2020 | $55,070,711 |
| FY2019 | $52,444,817 |
| FY2018 | $65,389,423 |
| FY2017 | $64,949,020 |
| FY2016 | $62,672,147 |
Top contractors by obligations
| Rank | Contractor | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAE Usa, Inc. | $541,525,848 | |
| 2 | Mcdonnell Douglas Corp | $403,223,891 | |
| 3 | Boeing Aerospace Operations, Inc. | $78,727,910 | |
| 4 | Boeing Aerospace Operations, Inc. | $62,409,298 | |
| 5 | Canadian Commercial Corporation | $56,896,296 | |
| 6 | CFM International Inc. | $55,793,605 | |
| 7 | Rockwell Collins, Inc. | $54,065,845 | |
| 8 | Rockmart Fuel Containment, LLC | $42,116,812 | |
| 9 | The Boeing Company | $41,388,536 | |
| 10 | Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation | $32,259,742 |
10 of 227 contractors listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Contract awards
Show 40 more
Latest 50 of 1,209 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
About this program
The KC-135R Tanker Aircraft program is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) managed by the Department of Defense under the Major Capability Acquisition pathway. The program oversees the acquisition and sustainment of the KC-135R aerial refueling tanker fleet through various maintenance, repair, overhaul, and modernization efforts. This acquisition program supports the ongoing operational capability of the KC-135 aircraft fleet through the procurement of parts, components, and engineering services.
The contract awards associated with this program primarily consist of repair, remanufacture, and overhaul services for critical KC-135 components including flight control systems, landing gear, cowlings, hydraulic systems, and avionics. Contract values range from small purchases of a few thousand dollars to larger engineering service contracts exceeding $7 million, with performance periods typically spanning 6 months to 4 years. The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command, particularly through the Lifecycle Management Center at Tinker Air Force Base, serves as the primary contracting authority. While most contracts are awarded without set-aside designations, some smaller procurements utilize Total Small Business set-asides. Notable contractors include Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation for sensor suite support and various specialized vendors for component-specific maintenance. Contract types are predominantly Firm Fixed Price, with some Cost Plus Fixed Fee arrangements for engineering services.
Quick answers
What is KC-135R?
Tanker Aircraft (KC-135R) is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) led by the Air Force. It follows the Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) pathway.
How much has KC-135R obligated on contracts?
1,209 contract awards are coded to KC-135R, and their actions have obligated $1,676,446,453 since fiscal year 2004.
Who are the top contractors on KC-135R?
The contractors obligated the most on KC-135R contracts are CAE Usa, Inc. ($541,525,848), Mcdonnell Douglas Corp ($403,223,891) and Boeing Aerospace Operations, Inc. ($141,137,208 across 2 registrations).
How much did KC-135R obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Contracts coded to KC-135R obligated $21,955,889 in fiscal year 2025.
What is the latest contract award for KC-135R?
The latest contract award coded to KC-135R is FA810525FB005, awarded to The Boeing Company on August 1, 2025.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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