Most of the information in this fact sheet was obtained from the US Airforce site. All information is general and not varient specific. If you find some wrong information, or can add anything please e-mail me.

Description
Although the KC-10's primary mission is aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks of tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters while carrying the fighters' support people and equipment during overseas deployments. The KC-10A can transport up to 75 people and about 170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms) of cargo.

History and Features
Bulit from a modified McDonnell Douglas DC-10, the KC-10A entered service in 1981. Although 88 percent of its systems are common with the DC-10, it has additional systems and equipment necessary for its Air Force mission. Additions include military avionics; an aerial refueling boom, an aerial refueling hose and drogue, a seated aerial refueling operator station and an aerial refueling receptacle. The KC-10A fleet is being modified to add wing-mounted pods to further enhance aerial refueling capabilities.

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-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. In-flight refueling was key to the rapid airlift of material and forces. In addition to refueling airlift aircraft, the KC-10A, 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.

The KC-10A and the KC-135 conducted about 51,700 separate refueling operations and delivered 125 million gallons (475 million liters) of fuel without missing a single scheduled rendezvous.

General Characteristics
Primary function: Aerial refueling/transport.
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas.
Power plant: Three General Electric CF-6-50C2 turbofans
Thrust: 52,500 pounds (23,625 kilograms), each engine
Wing span: 165 feet, 4 1/2 inches (50 meters)
Length: 181 feet, 7 inches (54.4 meters)
Height: 58 feet, 1 inch (17.4 meters)
Speed: 619 mph (Mach 0.825)
Maximum takeoff weight: 590,000 pounds (265,500 kilograms)
Ceiling: 42,000 feet (12,727 meters)
Range: 4,400 miles (3,800 nautical miles) with cargo; 11,500 miles (10,000 nautical miles) without cargo
Crew: Four (aircraft commander, pilot, flight engineer and boom operator)
Armament: None
Unit Cost: $83.6 million
Date deployed: March 1981