House Committee Orders Air Force Briefing on Restarting C-17 Production and Alternative Airlift Options by March 2027

The 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.