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The C-17A combines a large cargo hold with short-field delivery capability. It can move heavy equipment between continents and unload through a rear ramp at the destination.
United StatesBoeing C-17 Globemaster III
U.S. Air Force · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · ModifiedStrategic and tactical airlifter
United States
McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
In service
United States Air Force Indian Air Force Royal Air Force Royal Australian Air Force
279
1991–2015
17 January 1995
15 September 1991
McDonnell Douglas YC-15
3 (2 pilots, 1 loadmaster)
170,900 lb (77,519 kg) of cargo distributed at max over 18 463L master pallets or a mix of palletized cargo and vehicles 102 paratroopers or 134 troops with palletized and sidewall seats or 54 troops with sidewall seats (allows 13 cargo pallets) only or 36 litter and 54 ambulatory patients and medical attendants or Cargo, such as one M1 Abrams tank, two Bradley armored vehicles, or three Stryker armored vehicles
174 ft (53 m)
169 ft 9.6 in (51.755 m)
55 ft 1 in (16.79 m)
3,800 sq ft (350 m 2 )
282,500 lb (128,140 kg)
585,000 lb (265,352 kg)
35,546 US gal (29,598 imp gal; 134,560 L)
4 × Pratt & Whitney PW2000 turbofan engines, 40,440 lbf (179.9 kN) thrust each (U.S. military designation: F117-PW-100)
450 kn (520 mph, 830 km/h) (Mach 0.74–0.79)
2,420 nmi (2,780 mi, 4,480 km) with 157,000 lb (71,214 kg) payload
6,230 nmi (7,170 mi, 11,540 km)
45,000 ft (14,000 m)
7.165
root: DLBA 142; tip: DLBA 147
150 lb/sq ft (730 kg/m 2 )
0.277 (minimum)
at MTOW: 8,200 ft (2,499 m)
3,500 ft (1,067 m)
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The system in detail
A high wing, four underwing engines and a T-tail leave the cargo floor unobstructed. The landing gear and loading ramp support operations with oversized vehicles and palletised freight.1
Electronic flight controls, integrated navigation and cockpit displays support transport and airdrop tasks. Cabin seating and freight arrangements change between missions rather than representing simultaneous capacities.1
This profile covers the C-17A airframe. Boeing lists international operators and a sustainment programme; delivered fleet totals are separate from current mission-ready numbers.1
Payload must be paired with range and runway conditions. A ferry distance without cargo is not the distance available while transporting the maximum load.1
C-17 Globemaster III equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
AustraliaAir Force fleet size at the end of 2024–25, as defined in Table D.8 note 1. Reported holdings of the named platform; not an immediately deployable count. Includes only the platform variant named in the source row. Source row: C-17A Globemaster III.
BulgariaNumber column of the Wikipedia list table under "NATO shared aircraft". The list's own wording applies; it is a compiled secondary source, not an official census.
CanadaJanuary 2026 reported holdings of CC-177 GLOBEMASTER III. Covers the named Canadian fleet across its reported variants. The overview does not separate active, stored or maintenance status; this is not a readiness or deployable-strength count.
FinlandNumber column of the Wikipedia list table under "Heavy Airlift Wing". The list's own wording applies; it is a compiled secondary source, not an official census.
IndiaReported count for Boeing C-17 Globemaster III · C-17A. Service scope: Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 11. Origin: USA. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2026), not the article revision. 2026 cited source edition. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
KuwaitReported count for Boeing C-17 Globemaster III · C-17A. Service scope: Kuwait Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 2. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2025), not the article revision. 2025 cited publication year. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
Netherlands
QatarReported count for C-17 Globemaster III · –. Service scope: Qatar Emiri Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 8. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2026), not the article revision. 2026 cited source edition. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
RomaniaReported count for Boeing C-17 Globemaster III · C-17. Service scope: Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): numbers: 3 (shared within NATO's SAC programme). Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
SwedenReported count for Boeing C-17 Globemaster III · C-17A. Service scope: Swedish Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): in service: 3. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
TürkiyeReported count for C-17 Globemaster III · Block 21. Service scope: Turkish Air Force aircraft; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 1. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
United Arab EmiratesReported count for Boeing C-17. Service scope: United Arab Emirates Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 8. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2025), not the article revision. 2025 cited publication year. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
United KingdomTotal reported holdings of the named fixed-wing or uncrewed platform, across reported variants. Includes aircraft outside the in-service fleet; not an active-only or readiness count. Platforms included: C-17 Globemaster.
United StatesUS Air Force C-17A Globemaster III Total Aircraft Inventory holdings as of 30 September 2025, including Active Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command. This covers the named source row only, not all variants in the family or all United States services. Inventory includes aircraft not immediately deployable; it is not a combat-readiness count.
United States Air Force Indian Air Force Royal Air Force Royal Australian Air Force
Equipment reference ↗