Revitalizing the KC-10 Tanker Aircraft
On September 26, 2024, the US Air Force officially marked the end of an era for the KC-10A Extender tanker aircraft. This date saw the last operational flight of the aircraft with the tail number 79-1948, which subsequently landed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. There, alongside its counterparts, it was relegated to storage at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) in the arid desert. Currently, the base houses 56 such aircraft, yet there are indications that the three-engine tanker may be poised for a limited revival in the near future.
Potential Buyers and Military Cooperation
On October 7, the US procurement portal SAM released a Request for Information (RFI) regarding an initiative to reactivate a number of these tankers. Plans are in place to potentially restore up to four KC-10 aircraft for transfer to a "partner nation in North Africa." The Air Force Material Command is seeking to identify companies capable of bringing these aircraft back into service, specifically looking for capabilities in depot-level maintenance, global transportation, product support for three to five years in the recipient country, as well as training for operational and technical personnel.
This delivery would fall under the Foreign Military Sales program, categorized as Excess Defense Articles (EDA), which allows for the sale of surplus defense materials at favorable conditions. However, even for KC-10 aircraft that have not been flown for over two years, there are significant costs associated with technical support and training.
While the interested nation has not been explicitly named, two countries are considered potential candidates: Egypt and Morocco. Both nations operate substantial air fleets, including the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, which is produced in the United States. Morocco is set to receive its first new F-16 Block 72 aircraft soon, while in Egypt, the F-16 is the most prevalent combat aircraft in their inventory. The KC-10, with its boom system, stands as one of the few candidates for refueling operations. Additionally, the Extender can utilize the more commonly used basket-and-hose method, which could serve Egypt’s Dassault Rafale aircraft.
Currently, only Morocco possesses aerial refueling capability through its C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with refueling pods. This allows for the refueling of aircraft like the F-5 and Mirage F1, but it is not suitable for the F-16. Egypt has recently placed an order for two C-130J aircraft, which could also serve as tankers.
As reported by flugrevue.de.
