Originally published at: Air Force Considers Restarting C-17 Production
Production ended more than a decade ago.
I work and live near Long Beach Airport where MCDD built all the C-17’s. All the tooling for that program was destroyed and scrapped in 2015. All they have are the plans. Could the line be restarted, no, but it could be rebuilt. The question is, is the cost worth it? The C17 was and is still is the best in class mil air transport.
Some military forces might purchase A400s.
C17 probably faster over long trips, and existing operators have much knowledge and maintenance capability.
On the smaller side is the Brazilian twin.
What is the driving justification to reopen a C-17 production line? Though an extremely capable lifter, the primary reason for its existence was to deliver M1A1 main battle tanks (today’s vulnerable drone targets) and other out-sized cargo to forward austere locations. Does our military need to expand this capability or has the DoD determined a new additional lift requirement? The battlefield environment is now more dynamic and changing than when the C-17 was conceived and developed. Any new airlifter must meet tomorrow’s anticipated military requirements and should benefit from improved design and construction techniques.
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