US seeks contractor to return four stored KC-10 tankers to service for North African transfer

The United States has issued a request for information on reactivating up to four KC-10 Extender aerial refuelling aircraft for transfer to a North African nation under the foreign military sales programme. Aviation Week reported the notice, which asks companies to demonstrate the capability, expertise and facilities to return the stored tankers to flying condition.

The work ranges from restoring the aircraft and clearing them for a single flight, through depot-level return to service, to ferrying them worldwide. It also covers contractor logistics support and operations and maintenance training in the recipient country.

A request for proposals is expected to follow, allowing interested bidders to compete for the final contract.

The KC-10s are classified as Excess Defense Articles. They left the US Air Force inventory in 2024, and most of the fleet went to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group facility at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

The notice does not name the recipient. Egypt and Morocco are the only North African countries that both maintain good relations with Washington and operate US-sourced military equipment, according to the source, making them the probable candidates.

Private aerial refuelling contractor Omega is said to have already taken on as many as ten of the surplus tankers to support its contracted work. The KC-10 can offload more fuel than the KC-135 Stratotanker or the KC-46 Pegasus. The notice covers up to four aircraft.