91-10

KC-10A Extender

The KC-10A Extender is a Strategic Air Command advanced tanker and cargo 
aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces.
Function/Characteristics

Although the KC-10A's primary mission is aerial refueling, it can combine the 
tasks of a tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters and simultaneously 
carry the fighters' support people and equipment on overseas deployments.  

The KC-10A can transport up to 75 people and about 170,000 pounds of cargo a 
distance of about 4,400 miles.   Without cargo, the KC-10A's unrefueled range 
is more than 11,500 miles.

A modified McDonnell Douglas 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.  
Additions include military avionics; aerial refueling boom and aerial 
refueling hose and drogue; seated aerial refueling operator station; and, 
aerial refueling receptacle.  The KC-10A fleet currently is being modified to 
add wing-mounted pods to further enhance aerial refueling capabilities.   

In addition to DC-10 wing fuel tanks, the KC-10A has two large fuel tanks 
under the cargo floor, one under the forward lower cargo compartment and one 
under the rear compartment.  Combined, the six tanks carry more than 356,000 
pounds of fuel -- almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker.

Using either an advanced aerial refueling boom, or a hose and drogue refueling 
system, the KC-10A can refuel a wide variety of U.S. and allied military 
aircraft.  The aircraft is equipped with special lighting for night 
operations.

The KC-10A'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 per minute; the hose and drogue refueling maximum rate is 470 gallons 
per minute.

The KC-10A 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 tactical 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.

The KC-10A's crew includes an aircraft commander, pilot, flight engineer and 
boom operator.  The sophisticated avionics of the aircraft are designed to 

improve crew efficiency and reduce crew workload.  On certain missions, 
additional seats and bunks can be rearranged to accommodate extra crew 
members.

Operations

The KC-10A is operated by the 2nd Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; 22nd 
Air Refueling Wing, March Air Force Base, Calif.; and 4th Wing, Seymour 
Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.  Air Force Reserve units that participate in the 
Associate Program are assigned to the 452nd and 434th Air Refueling wings at 
all three locations.



Operations Desert Shield/Storm

During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the KC-10 fleet provided 
in-flight refueling to aircraft from all branches of 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 build-up.

During Operation Desert Storm, in-flight refueling extended the range and 
capability of all U.S. and other coalition fighter aircraft.  Air operations 
continued without costly and time-consuming ground refueling.

The KC-10A and the KC-135 conducted about 51,700 separate refueling operations 
and delivered 125 million gallons of fuel without missing a single scheduled 
rendezvous. 

Specifications

Primary Function:  Aerial tanker, transport.
Prime Contractor:  Douglas Aircraft Co., division of McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Power Plant:  Three General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofans.
Thrust:  52,500 lbs. each engine.
Dimensions:  Wingspan 165 ft., length 182 ft., height 58 ft.
Speed:  520 mph.
Ceiling:  42,000 ft.
Range:  11,500 miles (no cargo, unrefueled).
Cargo Space:  12,250 cubic ft.
Maximum Cargo Payload:  170,000 lbs.
Maximum Fuel Load:  356,000 lbs.
Maximum Takeoff Weight:  590,000 lbs.
Crew:  Four
Status:  Operational

Supersedes USAF Fact Sheet 88-28
Local Reproduction Authorized
October 1991