US Air Force Retires Its Most Capable Tanker Amid Concerns Over Replacement's Downgraded Capability
The United States Air Force is retiring its fleet of KC-10 Extender aerial refueling tankers, its most capable asset in this class. Based on the DC-10 airliner, the KC-10 can carry significantly more fuel and cargo than the aircraft replacing it. The retirement is part of a fleet modernization effort aimed at reducing operational costs. However, the move is considered a downgrade in the short term, as the new KC-46A Pegasus has a smaller capacity and has faced developmental issues. The final KC-10 is scheduled to be sent to the boneyard by September 2024, concluding over four decades of service.
Official Source: https://simpleflying.com/us-air-force-retire-most-capable-tanker-replaced-downgrade/
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