The U.S. Air Force is examining whether Boeing C-17 Globemaster III production could be restarted as part of its Next-Generation Airlift review, while also weighing service-life extensions and a clean-sheet replacement for the C-17 and C-5. Air Mobility Command chief Lt. Gen. Daniel Tulley indicated the restart question is under study and that all options remain open.
The review comes as the service plans for a long-term replacement of its heavy-lift fleet, which is expected to remain in service well into the 2040s and beyond. Boeing ended C-17 production in 2015, meaning any restart would require rebuilding tooling, supplier capacity and wider industrial support rather than simply resuming assembly.
Boeing has also been in contact with operators interested in a possible restart, and the company has described those discussions as encouraging. Lawmakers have sought a formal briefing on the feasibility of bringing production back by early 2027, underscoring that the issue remains a study rather than a procurement decision.