McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender

KC-10 Extender
A United States Air Force KC-10 Extender refueling an F-16 Fighting Falcon
General information
Type	Tanker/transport
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas
Status	In limited service
Primary users	United States Air Force (historical) Omega Aerial Refueling Services Royal Netherlands Air Force (historical)
Number built	KC-10: 60 KDC-10: 3[1]
History
Manufactured	KC-10: 1979–1987
Introduction date	1 March 1981; 43 years ago (1981-03-01)
First flight	12 July 1980; 44 years ago (1980-07-12)
Retired	2021 (RNLAF) 2024 (USAF)
Developed from	McDonnell Douglas DC-10

The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is an American tanker and cargo aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1981 to 2024. A military version of the three-engine DC-10 airliner, the KC-10 was developed from the Advanced Tanker Cargo Aircraft Program.^{[N 1]} It incorporates military-specific equipment for its primary roles of aerial refueling and transport. It was developed to supplement the KC-135 Stratotanker following experiences in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The KC-10 was the second McDonnell Douglas transport aircraft to be selected by the Air Force following the C-9. A total of 60 KC-10s were produced for the USAF. The Royal Netherlands Air Force operated two similar tankers designated KDC-10 that were converted from DC-10s.^[2]

The KC-10 played a key role in the mobilization of US military assets, taking part in overseas operations far from home. These aircraft performed airlift and aerial refueling during the 1986 bombing of Libya (Operation Eldorado Canyon), the 1990–91 Gulf War with Iraq (Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm), the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (Operation Allied Force), War in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom), and Iraq War (Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn).

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