For the first time, a KC-46 Pegasus has conducted an “alert launch and response”, the United States Air Force reported.

The sortie tested the capability of the aircraft and its crew to react quickly and efficiently. The response was completed by the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and took place at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

Tanker aircraft are often solicited for missions such as Quick Reaction Alert, where fighter jets can be scrambled to intercept and identify a potential threat. Therefore, it is crucial that the aircraft is airborne and ready to extend the range of the fighters in as short a time as possible.