Why Boeing Retired Its Iconic C-17 Globemaster III

July 13, 2025 - By 4idiotz

Summary:

Boeing is considering resuming production of its C-17 Globemaster III jet, which was discontinued in 2015 due to lack of demand and budget cuts. The C-17, with its 164,000-pound cargo capacity and range of 6,230 nautical miles, has the ability to land on remote runways, making it a valuable asset in conflicts like Russia’s war against Ukraine. However, the jet’s production cost and maintenance were major factors in its discontinuation.

What This Means for You:

The potential resumption of C-17 production may indicate a growing demand for large-capacity cargo jets in military operations.
The aircraft’s unique features, such as its ability to land on short runways, could be beneficial in various military and humanitarian missions.
Consider the implications of budget decisions and demand fluctuations on the lifecycle of large-scale defense projects.
Be aware of the ongoing impact of budget cuts on defense spending and the potential consequences for military readiness and capability.

Original Post:

Boeing is reportedly considering resuming production of its C-17 Globemaster III jet, discontinued in 2015. That’s going to be quite a trick since the Long Beach, California factory that made the plane has long been shuttered and is currently for sale. That said, some of the equipment and assembly lines might be salvaged and relocated to a new facility, which raises the question of why the supersized cargo hauler was discontinued to begin with.

Few jets besides the Lockheed C-5M Galaxy can match the C-17’s 164,000-plus-pound cargo capacity or its range of 6,230 nautical miles when empty. However, the C-17 has an advantage over the C-5M Galaxy because of its more compact footprint, which allows landings on remote, undeveloped runways as short as 3,000 feet. Its brace of four Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines make 40,440 pounds of thrust each. Converting that thrust figure to horsepower, we come up with about 223,444 horsepower at the jet’s cruising speed of 450 knots (518 mph). The contents of the C-17’s voluminous cargo hold could range from humans to military vehicles like tanks and helicopters.

It’s ironic that recent conflicts like Russia’s war against Ukraine and flare-ups in the Middle East have rekindled interest in the C-17, because most of the reason it was discontinued was lack of demand. That’s not unlike the fate of another famously large aircraft, the Boeing 747 passenger jet, which is mostly gone from commercial flight except for these airline holdouts.