Air Force Expects Next-Generation Airlifter in Service by Early 2040s

But the C-17 and C-5 will need to remain viable for decades.

Zach Vasile

Monday, December 01, 2025 at 12:10 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Staff Sergeant John Eller conducts preflight checks on a C-17 Globemaster III. [Credit: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force plans for its Next Generation Airlift (NGAL) aircraft to achieve initial operational capability by fiscal year 2041, with production possibly starting in 2038 if funding and acquisition proceed smoothly.
To mitigate risks during the NGAL development, the existing C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III transport fleets will have their service lives extended significantly, with the C-5 flying until at least 2045 and the C-17 until 2075.
The NGAL will replace the C-5 fleet first on a one-for-one basis, then the C-17 fleet, prioritizing features like speed, agility, and enhanced capability in high-threat environments.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The U.S. Air Force says it could have a next-generation military transport aircraft in service as soon as fiscal year 2041, but it still wants its two main workhorses, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, up and running for decades to come.

If the acquisition process moves smoothly with no breaks in funding, the planned new aircraft, known by the military as the Next Generation Airlift (NGAL), could be in production by fiscal year 2038, with initial operational capability reached about three years later, according to a recent Air Mobility Command (AMC) memo. As the NGAL is phased in, however, the C-17 and the C-5 will have to continue flying missions.