U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet

KC-10 EXTENDER

Mission 

The KC-10 Extender is an Air Mobility 

Command advanced tanker and cargo aircraft 

designed to provide increased global mobility 

for U.S. armed forces. Although the KC-l0's 

primary mission is aerial refueling, it can 

combine the tasks of a tanker and cargo 

aircraft by refueling fighters and 

simultaneously carry the fighter support 

personnel and equipment on overseas 

deployments. The KC-10 is also capable of 

transporting litter and ambulatory patients 

using patient support pallets during 

aeromedical evacuations.

Features

The KC-10 can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms) of 

cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles (7,040 kilometers) unrefueled. 

In addition to the three main DC-10 wing fuel tanks, the KC-10 has three large fuel tanks under 

the cargo floor, one under the forward lower cargo compartment, one in the center wing area 

and one under the rear compartment. Combined, the capacity of the six tanks carry more than 

356,000 pounds (160,200 kilograms) of fuel - almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker. 

Using either an advanced aerial refueling boom, or a hose and drogue centerline refueling 

system, the KC-10 can refuel a wide variety of U.S. and allied military aircraft within the same 

mission. The aircraft is equipped with lighting for night operations. 

The KC-10's boom operator controls refueling operations through a digital, fly-by wire system. 

Sitting in the rear of the aircraft, the operator can see the receiver aircraft through a wide 

window. During boom refueling operations, fuel is transferred to the receiver at a maximum rate 

of 1,100 gallons (4,180 liters) per minute; the hose and drogue refueling maximum rate is 470 

gallons (1,786 liters) per minute. The Automatic Load Alleviation System and Independent 

Disconnect System greatly enhances safety and facilitates air refueling. The KC-10 can be airrefueled by a KC-135 or another KC-10A to increase its delivery range. 

The large cargo-loading door can accept most air forces' fighter unit support equipment. 

Powered rollers and winches inside the cargo compartment permit moving heavy loads. The 

cargo compartment can accommodate loads ranging from 27 pallets to a mix of 17 pallets and 

75 passengers. 

Background

A modified Boeing Company DC-10, the KC-10A entered service in 1981. Although it retains 88 

percent systems commonality with the DC-10, it has additional systems and equipment 

necessary for its Air Force mission. These additions include military avionics; aerial refueling 

boom and aerial refueling hose and drogue; seated aerial refueling operator station; and aerial 

refueling receptacle and satellite communications. 

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Twenty KC-10s were modified to add wing-mounted pods to further enhance aerial refueling 

capabilities. Ongoing modifications include the addition of communications, navigation and 

surveillance equipment to meet future civil air traffic control needs, and the incorporation of 

service bulletins to maintain Federal Aviation Administration certification. 

The KC-10A is operated by the 305th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.; and the 

60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif. Air Force Reserve Associate units are assigned to the 

349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis, and the 514th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire. 

During operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991, the KC-10 fleet provided in-flight 

refueling to aircraft from the U.S. armed forces as well as those of other coalition forces. In the 

early stages of Operation Desert Shield, in-flight refueling was key to the rapid airlift of materiel 

and forces. In addition to refueling airlift aircraft, the KC-10, along with the smaller KC-135, 

moved thousands of tons of cargo and thousands of troops in support of the massive Persian 

Gulf buildup. The KC-10 and the KC-135 conducted about 51,700 separate refueling operations 

and delivered 125 million gallons (475 million liters) of fuel without missing a single scheduled 

rendezvous. 

In March 1999, a NATO air campaign, dubbed Operation Allied Force, was launched 

against the government of Yugoslavia. The mobility portion of the operation began in February 

and was heavily tanker dependent. By early May 1999, some 150 KC-10s and KC-135s 

deployed to Europe where they refueled bombers, fighters and support aircraft engaged in the 

conflict. The KC-10 flew 409 missions throughout the entire Allied Force campaign and 

continued support operations in Kosovo. 

Since Sept. 11, 2001, KC-10s have played a prominent role in the on-going Global War on 

Terrorism. The KC-10 has flown more than 350 missions guarding U.S. skies as a part of 

Operation Noble Eagle. During operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, KC-10s have 

flown more than 1,390 missions delivering critical air refueling support to numerous joint and 

coalition receiver aircraft.

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Aerial tanker and transport 

Contractor: The Boeing Company 

Power Plant: Three General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofans 

Thrust: 52,500 pounds (23,625 kilograms), each engine 

Length: 181 feet, 7 inches (54.4 meters) 

Height: 58 feet, 1 inch (17.4 meters) 

Wingspan: 165 feet, 4.5 inches (50 meters) 

Speed: 619 mph (Mach 0.825) 

Ceiling: 42,000 feet (12,727 meters) 

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 590,000 pounds (265,500 kilograms) 

Range: 4,400 miles (3,800 nautical miles) with cargo; 11,500 miles (10,000 nautical miles) 

without cargo 

Maximum Cargo Payload: 170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms) 

Pallet Positions: 27 

Maximum Fuel Load: 356,000 pounds (160,200 kilograms) 

Crew: Four (pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer and boom operator) Certain missions may require 

additional crew members. In aeromedical evacuation missions, a basic crew of five (two flight 

nurses and three medical technicians) is added. Medical crew may be altered as required.

Unit Cost: $88.4 million (fiscal 1998 constant dollars) 

Date Deployed: March 1981 

Inventory: Active force, 59; ANG, 0; Reserve, 0

Point of Contact

Air Mobility Command, Public Affairs Office; 503 Ward Drive Ste 214, Scott AFB, IL 62225-

5335, DSN 779-7843 or 618-229-7843.

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