BAE Systems Completes 1,000th KC-135 Stratotanker Repair

BAE Systems (LON: BA) has completed its 1,000th U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker repair, a major sustainment milestone reached at the company’s facility in Endicott, New York. The achievement reflects a decades-long role in keeping the Air Force’s primary refueling aircraft fleet flying strong and operationally ready for more than 40 years. At the center of that work is the tanker’s safety-critical Fuel Management System, for which BAE Systems is the sole provider. The company has also developed an upgrade to that system aimed at further enhancing mission readiness.

A Milestone Made in Endicott

The 1,000th repair marks a major sustainment milestone for the team at the Endicott facility.

Corson Witham, Program Manager for Sustainment at BAE Systems, said:

“Reaching this milestone for the KC-135 is a testament to our team’s technical expertise and the strength of the system’s design. By maintaining the reliability of these critical flight systems, we support the U.S. Air Force’s operational readiness goals.”

Sole Provider of Fuel Management

As the sole provider of the KC-135’s Fuel Management System (FMS), BAE Systems employees maintain the tanker’s Fuel Management Advisory Computer (FMAC) and the Integrated Fuel Management Panel (IFMP). Their work spans legacy hardware maintenance to prevent obsolescence, alongside modern upgrades that help the aircraft operate in contested airspaces.

An Upgrade Built for Readiness

To further enhance mission readiness, BAE Systems has developed an FMS upgrade featuring line-replaceable units (LRUs) that exceed future mean time between failure requirements. The system’s open architecture complies with the U.S. Air Force Aviation Maintenance System Global Requirements Assurance framework, providing greater flexibility for future upgrades and repairs.

Four Decades of Safety-Critical Expertise

The KC-135 program draws on BAE Systems’ 40 years of experience delivering safety-critical aeronautic systems, including fly-by-wire controls, fuel management controls, electronic engine controls, power management systems and other mission-critical avionics. With the 1,000th repair completed and an FMS upgrade developed, the milestone reflects a decades-long role to keep the Air Force’s primary refueling aircraft fleet flying strong and operationally ready for more than 40 years.