An Air Force contracting notice suggested the retired aircraft could soon be upgraded for service in an unspecified “partner nation in North Africa”—presumably either Morocco or Egypt.

The United States Air Force officially retired its final KC-10 Extender just over two years ago, in late September 2024. The service had operated 60 of the McDonnell Douglas-built aircraft, based on the DC-10 airliner, with the Extender first entering service in 1981.

Four of those aircraft could soon be headed to Africa to see their service extended.

Earlier this week, the United States Air Force’ Life Cycle Management Center (LCMC) posted a contracting notice, which called for insight from industry to determine how quickly four Extenders could be made ready for transfer to an undisclosed partner nation under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. It oversees the transfer of surplus US military equipment to foreign partners, and can include platforms that have been retired, like the KC-10.

Where Will the KC-10s Go?

What is notable about this notice is that the US Air Force didn’t disclose where the aircraft could be headed.

“The intended purpose is to identify potential industry sources that possess the capability, expertise, and facilities to execute the regeneration, one-time flight clearance, depot-level return to service, worldwide ferry delivery, in-country Contractor Logistics Support (CLS), and operational/maintenance training for up to four (4) KC-10 Extender aircraft transferred via Excess Defense Articles (EDA) to a partner nation in North Africa,” the notice explained.

LCMC noted that the Request for Information (RFI) does contain “Controlled Unclassified Information” (CUI), which means it isn’t classified or requires national security clearance. Still, it does require special handling and safeguarding. The RFI will not be released to the general public, and instead interested parties will be required to request access.

There is already speculation as to which country could receive the Extenders, but there are two obvious contenders in North Africa: Egypt and Morocco. 

Both nations are strong US allies that already operate substantial US airfleets and are deeply integrated into US air supply chains. Both also fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Most F-16s cannot refuel with a probe-and-drogue system, and require a flying boom; the KC-10 can use either method.

Egypt maintains a fleet of approximately 220 F-16s and is the fourth-largest operator of the aircraft in the world, but it has no dedicated fleet of aerial refueling. Instead, it has relied on “buddy-buddy” refueling with foreign partners, notably from a Russian MiG-29M (NATO reporting name “Fulcrum”) to a Dassault Rafale. Cairo is set to acquire two C-130J Hercules, but that aircraft uses a probe-and-drogue (hose-and-basket) system, which is not compatible with the F-16.

Morocco has 23 F-16 Block 52+ fighters in active service and is looking to expand the fleet with 25 brand-new F-16 Block 72 models, bringing the fleet size to 48. The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) is set to receive the first of its 25 newly built F-16 Block 72 fighters in the near future. Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor of the advanced single-engine multirole fighter, announced this week that the first Block 72 aircraft destined for the RMAF had conducted its first flight, paving the way for delivery in the coming months. The RMAF already operates KC-130H Hercules tankers equipped with probe-and-drogue refueling systems.

About the KC-10 Extender

• Year Introduced: 1981
• Number Built: 62 (KC-10 and KDC-10)
• Length: ~181 ft (55.0 m)
• Wingspan: ~165 ft (50.4 m)
• Weight (MTOW): ~590,000 lb (267,600 kg)
• Engines: Three General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofans
• Top Speed: ~610 mph (~982 km/h) / ~Mach 0.90
• Range: ~4,400 mi (7,080 km)
• Service Ceiling: ~42,000 ft (12,800 m)
• Loadout: No weapons; could carry up to 356,000 lb (161,480 kg) of fuel
• Aircrew: 4 (plus passengers, if applicable)

Based on the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, the KC-10 Extender served as an Air Mobility Command tanker and cargo aircraft from 1981 until its retirement in 2024. It was developed in the 1970s to provide greater global mobility for the US military, and was outfitted with three large fuel tanks under its cargo floor—including one under the forward lower cargo compartment, a second in the center wing area, and a third located under the rear compartment. In addition, the KC-10 was designed with three main DC-10 wing fuel tanks. In total, it could carry more than 356,000 pounds (160,200 kilograms) of fuel, nearly twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker.

While the KC-10’s primary mission was aerial refueling, the aircraft was also designed to provide greater flexibility, with each KC-10 able to carry nearly 170,000 pounds of cargo and up to 75 people. The versatile Extender could also be employed to transport “litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations,” according to the aircraft’s fact sheet.

Throughout its more than four decades in service, the KC-10’s primary mission was aerial refueling, but it was also able to airlift personnel and equipment during overseas deployments. In addition, it was widely used in humanitarian missions, and it provided rapid response to natural disasters including hurricanes and earthquakes. The KC-10 played a significant role in the 1991 Gulf War, helping transport thousands of tons of cargo and thousands of military personnel and providing in-flight refueling for US and coalition aircraft. Other campaigns involving the KC-10 have included the 1986 bombing of Libya, NATO’s air campaign over Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and in the Global War on Terror (GWoT) in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

One aircraft—serial number 82-0190—was lost following a ground mishap at Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), Louisiana, while undergoing maintenance. The aircraft exploded, killing one ground crew maintainer. The aircraft in question was subsequently scrapped.

Three others are preserved as static displays—notably the first ever produced, which is now at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB, Delaware. Another is at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California, and another at Air Park outside of the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Some of the remaining retired airframes are now maintained at the Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, “Boneyard,” but given that the US Air Force no longer operates them and has no need for their spare parts, the KC-10s could be scrapped. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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