Paris Air Show 2025: Boeing confirms “very early infancy” C-17 Globemaster III production restart discussions as European market opportunity looms
The C-17 Globemaster stopped production in 2015. (Photo: Boeing)
The discussion of the C-17 comes off the back of Boeing’s focus on a growing European demand for defence equipment amid a growing threat on the continent.
Boeing has disclosed that there has been growing interest from its customer base and very early discussions with one country surrounding the possibility of restarting C-17 Globemaster III production.
Boeing said that there was “no planned replacement” for this aircraft, shooting down the suggestion that it would work on a successor.
The company disclosed, however, that there was growing interest from a number of countries about the possibility of Boeing restarting production, including “early infancy” discussion with one country about potentially restarting production.
Turbo Sjogren, VP and general manager of Boeing Global Services-Government Services, confirmed: “It is a very extraordinary effort to do, but as reflective of the say the utility of the aircraft, that is something we are currently looking at with one particular country that has raised the possibility of doing so.”
The gap left by the C-17 Globemaster III – which is no longer in production – has grown given the aircraft’s ability to deliver differentiated capabilities, including carrying a Main Battle Tank (MBT), when compared to the Airbus Atlas A400 or the Embraer C-390 Millennium.
According to Boeing, 267 C-17 aircraft are currently expected to be in the inventory of the US Air Force (USAF) and the international customers.
Regarding its modernisation and extension, there is a Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP), providing support to Boeing’s C-17 customers.
As noted on Shephard Defence Insight, the C-17 Globemaster III is a long-range, heavy-lift, strategic transport aircraft designed to meet the USAF’s and international air forces’ requirements.
Boeing announced that the C-17 line would close in 2015, following the production of 22 C-17s for export customers, with 15 of those not firmed.
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