The United States Air Force has issued a request for information regarding the potential restoration of up to four retired KC-10 Extender tankers. The initiative aims to bring these aircraft out of storage at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group to support an undisclosed partner nation in North Africa.
Under the proposed Foreign Military Sales program, the selected contractor would manage a comprehensive scope of work. Requirements include depot-level regeneration, obtaining one-time flight clearances, and executing delivery to the recipient nation. The program also calls for a three to five-year sustainment package, including long-term logistics support and aircrew and maintenance training.
The KC-10, based on the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 platform, offers both boom and hose-and-drogue refueling capabilities alongside significant cargo capacity. While the Air Force retired its final KC-10 in 2024, the type remains a subject of commercial interest. Earlier this year, Omega Air acquired ten retired frames for potential contract operations. This new government RFI highlights ongoing interest in the airframe’s utility for strategic refueling missions as the fleet transitions away from military service.