McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender

The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is an American trijet aerial refueling and cargo aircraft developed from the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 airliner for the United States Air Force's Advanced Tanker Cargo Aircraft Program. It incorporates military-specific equipment for its primary roles of aerial refueling and transport. It was developed to supplement the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker following experiences in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It was in service with the USAF from 1981 until its retirement in 2024.
The KC-10 was the second McDonnell Douglas transport aircraft to be selected by the Air Force following the McDonnell Douglas C-9. 60 KC-10s were produced for the USAF. The Royal Netherlands Air Force operated two similar tankers from 1995 to 2021 designated KDC-10 that were converted from used civilian DC-10, instead of purpose built aircraft.
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...