What the retirement of the KC-10 Extender means for the US Air Force
A KC-10 Extender being refuelled by another KC-10 over the Atlantic Ocean. (Photo: USAF)
The tanker will be replaced by the KC-46A Pegasus, which is a more capable platform in terms of avionics, but with less payload capacity.
The US Air Force (USAF) has fully divested its remaining fleet of KC-10 Extender after operating the multirole cargo tanker for nearly 45 years. The aircraft will be replaced by the KC-46A Pegasus which is a smaller, lighter platform, with less payload capacity but featuring newer technologies and more modern avionics.
The KC-46A was engineered with a more survivable design for deployment in contested scenarios and has been equipped with several self-protection, defensive and communication features including a radar warning receiver, Large Aircraft IR Countermeasures (LAIRCM), tactical situational awareness and NBC hardening.
Having first entered service with the USAF in 2019, the
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![What might next-generation military aircrew training look like?]()
What might next-generation military aircrew training look like?
Changing roles for combat aircraft fleets, the rise of simulation and LVC technologies, and the increasing cost of flight hours could all be leading to a paradigm shift in military pilot training.
-
![2025 air market review: European defence independence, next-gen tech and export concerns dominate]()
2025 air market review: European defence independence, next-gen tech and export concerns dominate
This year’s (geo)political turmoil has challenged many long-prevailing assumptions, leading to far-reaching consequences for air forces and their supplier bases in industry worldwide – with five key trends in review for 2025.
-
![Leonardo signs contract on Austria’s M-346 aircraft order]()
Leonardo signs contract on Austria’s M-346 aircraft order
The first of the 12 M-346 aircraft are expected to be delivered to the Austrian Air Force by 2028, according to the company.
