Primarily, the KC-10 is a tanker. For this task it has 3 standard fuel tanks and can carry 3 more internal to a total of 356.000 pounds of fuel. This is twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker but this is also due to the much larger size of the KC-10.

The KC-10 are new build aircraft for the USAF on the basis of the commercial freighter DC-10-30F. The KC-10 characterizes itself with the commercial passenger aircraft that it has no windows (which is better for the fuselage construction).

The fuel is transported by a solid boom. The KC-10 can refuel different types of aircraft. It can also tank another KC-10A Extender. The airplane can give a maximum of 4180 liter/minute.
In the aircraft, the boom operator - who controls the boom - sees the other aircraft through a large glass window. The KC-10 has an advanced fly-by wire system to control the aircraft about the 3 axis. Control is done by a Yoke.

KC-10 with F-16's / F-15	KC-10	KC-10
KC-10A	KC-10A refuels an F-117