US Air Force unveils new details of Next Generation Airlift aircraft to replace C-17 and C-5

The US Air Force (USAF) has started to define what could become its most important mobility aircraft since the C-17 Globemaster III – which entered service in the 1990s – with recent contracting notices providing initial requirements and a procurement timeframe for the Next Generation Airlift (NGAL) programme.

Rather than pursuing a conventional replacement for the C-17 and C-5M Super Galaxy, the service is seeking to increase survivability and operational flexibility for its airlift fleet while enabling missions in contested logistics scenarios.

Although this effort is still in its early stages, request for information (RfI) papers published last week suggested that the NGAL will bring a shift in how the US projects military power across the globe.

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“The NGAL programme seeks to identify and mature the technologies and concepts necessary to field a platform that offers significant advancements in capacity, range, efficiency, connectivity, survivability and operational flexibility over current systems,” the USAF stated in the RfI notice.

The future platform is expected to require reduced logistics footprints and operate in environments where today’s airlifters would face significant risk due to long-range surface-to-air missile threats and anti-access/area-denial networks.

Due on 1 August, the market research focuses on getting suppliers’ input to define potential technologies and aircraft architectures for the NGAL as well as support future operational strategies.

The information gathered will inform the subsequent steps of the initiative and refine requirements before the air force launches a formal programme of record.

“This RfI will be critical in shaping the USAF’s acquisition strategy by providing insight into the current state of technology and innovative concepts from across the aerospace industry,” the service noted.

While the air force has not selected a configuration for the new airlifter, previous service studies have explored blended wing-body designs, advanced propulsion systems, autonomous technologies and reduced-observable characteristics.

Initial prerequisites mentioned in the RfI encompass a wingspan of “strictly less than 223 feet and demonstrate the capability to carry a minimum payload of 160,000 pounds over a distance of at least 2,500 nautical miles unrefueled”.

The document added: “The absolute dimensional limitation is dictated by the physical constraints of existing global airfield infrastructure—including taxiways, hangars, and parking ramps—ensuring seamless integration into current mobility operations.”

Other projected characteristics for the aircraft include the ability to operate from semi-prepared or austere runways and the use of on-board prognostic, diagnostic or predictive maintenance features and tools.

In the case of the adoption of autonomous capabilities and optionally crewed concepts, the USAF is interested in hearing from vendors about the operational benefits, technical feasibility and risks associated with this approach.

“The RfI deliberately leaves the trade space open regarding levels of autonomy,” the air force claimed. “If a respondent envisions a platform designed with a pathway to fully autonomous operations, they should outline that capability evolution within their submission.”

NGAL programme timeline

Although the notice documents do not provide details regarding the NGAL schedule, a report published by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in March stated that major acquisition milestones, including engineering development and production decisions, are not expected until the early 2030s.

Concurrently, the Air Mobility Command Airlift Recapitalisation Strategy from 18 November 2025 noted that the future platform is planned to reach initial operational capability in FY2041.

“With an accelerated NGAL Analysis of Alternatives in FY27 and an uninterrupted acquisition process with consistent funding, the first NGAL aircraft could be produced as early as FY38,” USAF Air Mobility Command director of strategy, plans, requirements and programmes Brig Gen Dave Fazenbaker said in the paper.

Fazenbaker added that the “current recapitalisation projections require C-5M viability until 2045 and C-17A viability through 2075”.

Shephard Defence Insight noted that the C-5M Super Galaxy is a modernised version of the legacy C-5 manufactured from 1966 to 1989. It has a maximum range of 8,890km with 54,450kg of cargo and approximately 12,964km with no cargo on board and is the largest strategic airlift aircraft in the USAF inventory.

Meanwhile, the Globemaster III can transport 45,360kg of freight more than 8,334km while flying at altitudes above 35,000ft.

The C-17’s design enables high-angle, steep approaches at relatively slow speeds, allowing it to operate into small, austere airfields and onto runways as short as 1,067m long and just 27m wide. Its production began in 1991 and continued until 2015.

The CRS paper remarked that the C-17A Globemaster III serves as the USAF’s primary airlift aircraft and “can rapidly deliver troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating locations” in addition to conducting strategic and tactical airlift missions, airdrops and aeromedical evacuations.  

According to the report, the air force currently operates 222 C-17As, with 146 aircraft assigned to active-duty units, 50 to the Air National Guard and 26 to the Air Force Reserve. It also operates 52 C-5M aircraft, with 36 deployed within active-duty units and 16 deployed to the Air Force Reserve.

“To mitigate risks associated with acquisition delays, funding uncertainties or technological challenges, the existing C-5M and C-17A fleets’ operational viability must be maintained until a fully capable replacement is fielded,” Fazenbaker remarked.

For that matter, the USAF FY2027 budget proposal allocated more than US$76 million to the C-5 modernisation, which will also provide funds for the NGAL analysis of alternatives, technology maturation and concept refinement and development.

Shephard’s Farnborough International Airshow coverage is sponsored by MBDA

Related Programmes in Defence Insight

Next Generation Airlift (NGAL) [USA]

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

C-5 Galaxy/C-5M Super Galaxy

C-17 Globemaster III