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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders   B-Roll of KC-10 (U.S. Air Force)
                
                
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        OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM -- A KC-10 from McGuire AFB, N.J. resumes its flight pattern after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Afghanistan March 17.  The KC-135 crew, from the 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., is currently assigned to the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby)A KC-10 from McGuire AFB, N.J. resumes its flight pattern after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Afghanistan March 17.  The KC-135 crew, from the 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., is currently assigned to the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby)
                
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        SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- A KC-10 Extender rests on a parking ramp Jan. 25 waiting for its next refueling mission to support coalition aircraft supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Matthews)A KC-10 Extender rests on a parking ramp Jan. 25 waiting for its next refueling mission to support coalition aircraft supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Matthews)
                
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        KC-10 Extenders and C-17 Globemaster IIIs from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., taxi down the flightline during an emergency response exercise elephant walk. This is the first time C-17s and KC-10s have been paired in an exercise. Sixteen aircraft launched from McGuire on Friday, June 30, as part of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Brian Dyjak)KC-10 Extenders and C-17 Globemaster IIIs from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., taxi down the flightline during an emergency response exercise elephant walk. This is the first time C-17s and KC-10s have been paired in an exercise. Sixteen aircraft launched from McGuire on Friday, June 30, as part of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Brian Dyjak)
                
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        MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. (AFPN) -- A KC-10A Extender aircraft parks on the flightline at sunset. The KC-10 is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. It can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds of cargo. It has three large fuel tanks that carry more than 356,000 pounds of fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Denise Gould)A KC-10A Extender aircraft parks on the flightline at sunset. The KC-10 is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. It can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds of cargo. It has three large fuel tanks that carry more than 356,000 pounds of fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Denise Gould)
                
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        ROYAL AIR FORCE MIDENHALL, England -- A KC-10 Extender from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., takes off on a mission. The 100th Air Refueling Wing here provides operational support, and the base serves as a transiting point for personnel, aircraft and equipment destined for Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Meghan Geis)A KC-10 Extender from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., takes off on a mission. The 100th Air Refueling Wing here provides operational support, and the base serves as a transiting point for personnel, aircraft and equipment destined for Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Meghan Geis)
                
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 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 carries 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.

KC-10 ExtenderA U.S Air Force KC-10 Extender with the 76th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, is refueled by a KC-10 crewed by Reserve Citizen Airmen with the 78th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, over the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 14, 2018. The 514th is an Air Force Reserve Command unit located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)
            
            
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    KC-10 ExtenderA KC-10 Extender aircraft awaits servicing after landing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 1, 2018. The aircraft flew 1,855 miles from Travis AFB, Calif., to Friday to support refueling missions in the Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman)
            
            
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    KC-10 ExtenderA U.S Air Force KC-10 Extender crewed by Reserve Citizen Airmen with the 78th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, flies over the United States, May 18, 2018. The 514th is an Air Force Reserve Command unit located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)
            
            
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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 and independent disconnect systems greatly enhance safety and facilitate air refueling. The KC-10 can be air-refueled 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 of 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.
Twenty KC-10s were modified to add wing-mounted pods further enhancing their 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 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; and the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Air Force Reserve Associate units are assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis, and the 514th Air Mobility Wing at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
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, 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. 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 flew 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, 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; Air National Guard, 0; Air Force Reserve, 0**(Current as of May 2014)**
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