Endicott – November 06, 2026 -- BAE Systems (LON: BA) has completed its 1,000th repair on the U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker at its Endicott, New York, facility, marking a sustainment milestone in a program spanning more than 40 years.
BAE Systems holds sole-provider status for the KC-135 fuel management system
BAE Systems is the sole provider of the tanker's safety-critical Fuel Management System (FMS). Its employees maintain two components: the Fuel Management Advisory Computer (FMAC) and the Integrated Fuel Management Panel (IFMP).
The work covers legacy hardware maintenance to prevent obsolescence, plus modern upgrades that help the aircraft operate in contested airspaces. The KC-135 is the Air Force's primary refueling aircraft.
BAE Systems develops an FMS upgrade with open architecture and higher reliability targets
The new FMS upgrade uses line-replaceable units (LRUs) designed to exceed future mean time between failure requirements. Its open architecture complies with the U.S. Air Force Aviation Maintenance System-Global Requirements Assurance framework, which allows greater flexibility for future upgrades and repairs.
Corson Witham, program manager for sustainment at BAE Systems, called the milestone "a testament to our team's technical expertise" and tied the work to the Air Force's operational readiness goals.
Avionics track record spans 40 years of safety-critical systems
BAE Systems says the program draws on 40 years of experience delivering safety-critical aeronautic systems. These include fly-by-wire controls, fuel management controls, electronic engine controls and power management systems.