The Air Force asked RAND Project AIR FORCE to undertake a study to provide objective insight into the cost-effectiveness of modernizing the KC-10 Extender air refueling (AR) tanker aircraft. The study analyzed the cost-effectiveness of modernizing the KC-10 in the areas of avionics (CNS capabilities for ATM), NVIS compatibility, C2 (specifically, tactical data-link [TDL] capability), additional multipoint refueling capability, defensive protection, and reliability and safety upgrades. We assessed the cost-effectiveness ...
The KC-10 Extender air refueling aircraft is approaching 25 years of service without undergoing significant avionics modernization. Without upgrades, the CNS capabilities of the KC-10 will not allow it to comply with various upcoming air traffic management (ATM) mandates around the world. Noncompliance with these mandates would prevent the KC-10 from flying the most fuel-efficient altitudes and routings in civil air traffic systems and cause delays both on the ground ...
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