Chairman's mark would restrict KC-46 buy

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry's (R-TX) mark of the fiscal year 2019 defense policy bill includes a provision that would limit the Air Force's KC-46 tanker procurement effort until the Federal Aviation Administration signs off on the program's final certification.

The language states that the service would be restricted from buying three of the new combat tankers until the program has received both its supplemental and military certifications from the FAA and the Air Force has accepted the first aircraft delivery.

Prime contractor Boeing announced in April it had completed all the flight tests associated with the supplemental certification. In a May 7 email, spokesman Charles Ramey said the company is working through final data analysis and paperwork with the FAA, and it's unclear when the agency will sign off on the certification.

The company received its military, or amended type, certification in December 2017.