October 10, 2026
The US Air Force is seeking to return four KC-10 Extender air refueling aircraft to service, in preparation for their delivery to a partner country in North Africa, amid official reservations about revealing the identity of the beneficiary country.
An American document bearing the number “FA8625-27-R-B001” and falling within the “Excess Defense Equipment (EDA)” program revealed that the Air Force is looking for companies capable of equipping the four aircraft, currently out of service, and conducting the necessary checks for them, including a one-time flight permit, and delivering them via flights to the country in question.
According to a notice issued by the US Department of Defense on October 7, 2026, the required work also includes providing logistical support within the beneficiary country, in addition to operational and technical training programs for a period ranging between 3 and 5 years. The twenty-eighth of October has been set as a deadline to receive responses from interested companies.
The US Air Force stressed that this procedure does not represent a final deal or an official request for proposals, but rather a “request for information and market research” to explore companies’ capabilities and determine the most appropriate approach to the procurement process, while stressing that this does not impose any obligation on the US government to conclude a subsequent contract.
In the same context, Egypt’s name stands out in expectations as a potential country that meets the specifications, given its strategic location in North Africa and its extended military relations with the United States. However, the American document lacked any official designation or sufficient information to confirm the identity of the beneficiary, which keeps this possibility within the scope of analysis and conclusion and not the announced deal.
