Unbiased AI-powered news
The House Committee on Armed Services requires the Secretary of the Air Force to assess restarting C-17 Globemaster III production. The briefing must cover technical feasibility, costs, timelines, and alternatives for strategic airlift capacity.
The War ZoneThe House Committee on Armed Services directed the Secretary of the Air Force to deliver a briefing on the feasibility of restarting C-17 Globemaster III production no later than March 1, 2027. The requirement was added last week to a report accompanying the draft National Defense Authorization Act.
The briefing must assess technical and industrial feasibility, including the status of tooling, supplier base viability, workforce availability, and potential reconstitution costs.
It must also provide an estimate of the timeline to reestablish production and deliver the first newly produced aircraft, plus a cost estimate covering limited and multi-year procurement options. The committee further requires an evaluation of alternative approaches to increasing strategic airlift capacity, such as service life extension programs, modernization of existing aircraft, procurement of commercial derivative cargo aircraft, and expansion of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet.
The briefing must also assess potential international partner interest in participating in or contributing to a restarted production line.
The committee noted that the existing C-17 fleet continues to bear significant operational demands supporting combatant commander requirements, humanitarian assistance missions, and global mobility operations. It expressed concern that future operational demands may place additional strain on the fleet.
U.S. Air Force took delivery of its last C-17 in 2013 and currently operates approximately 222 aircraft. Boeing closed the C-17 production line in 2015. Allies operating C-17s include Australia, Canada, India, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, plus three aircraft under the Strategic Airlift Capability initiative.
The War Zone reported that Boeing stated it is encouraged by customer outreach regarding a possible production restart. The company said its goal is to help customers be successful and work with them on development and production partnerships. U.S. Air Force and eight allied nation partners.
U.S. Air Force plans to keep C-17s in service through 2075. All Air Force C-17s are expected to have 3D-printed microvanes installed on the fuselage by the end of 2026.
Boeing is under contract to upgrade C-17 flight decks with new open systems architectures. The War Zone reported that Boeing sold the Long Beach, California facilities where C-17s were built in 2019. 7 billion in 2011 dollars.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss stated in February that the C-17 is the most amazing airplane ever made and has performed flawlessly but is getting old. She said she cannot have a gap in strategic airlift forces and is working on the Next Generation Air Lift program to determine what the next strategic airlifter needs to be.
Abc NewsU.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper barred most provisions of President Donald Trump's first election executive order. The order required proof of citizenship for voter registration and restricted late-arriving mail ballots.
businesstoday.inThe administration requested $672 million within an $80 billion supplemental package to remove Iranian nuclear materials and fund verification activities. Negotiators are working to convert a June 17 memorandum of understanding into a detailed agreement on Iran's enriched uranium…
dutchnews.nlThe Trump administration reached a settlement with Chemours Co. requiring a $22.5 million penalty and at least $427.5 million in mitigation measures. The agreement covers illegal releases at facilities in West Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey.