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<div class="slide-key image-holder gallery-image-holder credit-image-wrap lead-image-holder" data-post-url="https://www.slashgear.com/1766699/military-transport-aircraft-most-powerful-ever-built/" data-post-title="The World's 5 Most Powerful Military Transport Aircraft" data-slide-num="0" data-post-id="1766699">
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<p dir="ltr">When most people think of aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force, they often envision fighter jets like the F-35A Lightning II or bombers like the B-2 Spirit. While those get significant attention and provide substantial mission capabilities, the Air Force's arsenal extends far beyond just combat planes. Among the critical aircraft are the strategic airlift planes, designed to transport heavy cargo globally.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">Militaries worldwide, not just the U.S., utilize these essential aircraft. While aerial strikes and target bombings are crucial, transporting troops, cargo, vehicles, and equipment is vital for capturing and maintaining territories. Historically, naval vessels were the primary movers during conflicts like WWII, but modern aircraft expedite this task significantly.</p>
<p dir="ltr">These aircraft need to handle immense weights - several tons, making them remarkably large. Though numerous large strategic airlift planes exist globally, a few standout as colossal engineering feats, boasting numerous engines and requiring vast amounts of fuel per flight hour. Here are five of the largest military transport planes, likely among the biggest we'll ever witness.</p>
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<h2 class="">Boeing C-17 Globemaster III</h2>
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<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.slashgear.com/1656253/everything-to-know-about-c-17-globemaster-iii/" target="_blank">The C-17 Globemaster III is a primary workhorse for military transport missions within the U.S. Air Force</a>. Since its operational debut in 1995, 279 units were produced until the shutdown of its manufacturing line in 2015. This aircraft is often deployed in tactical and strategic air missions involving personnel and cargo worldwide and has undergone numerous block upgrades in its service life. The last upgrade, Block 21, integrated advanced systems like Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out (ADS-B OUT), Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF) features, and various communication and flight advancements.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">The C-17 spans an impressive 170 feet in wings and is 174 feet in length. Standing at 55 feet 1 inch, its cargo area measures 88 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 12 feet 4 inches high, enabling it to carry up to 102 troops, 36 litters with 54 ambulatory patients and medics, or 170,900 lbs. (85.45 tons) of cargo spread over 18 pallet slots.</p>
<p>Overall, the C-17 comes with a maximum takeoff load of 585,000 lbs. (292.5 tons), powered by four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines, together generating 161,760 pounds of thrust. This allows the vast plane to cruise at Mach 0.74 (567.8 mph) at 45,000 feet and covers 2,762 miles, with aerial refueling extending this range indefinitely.</p>
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<h2 class="">Antonov An-22 Antei</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">The Antonov An-22 Antei, constructed in the 1960s for the Soviet Union's military transport needs, first took flight in 1965. Out of approximately 70 units built, a few remain actively flying under the Russian Aerospace Forces. The An-22 stands out as the biggest propeller-driven aircraft ever made, powered by four Samara-Kusnetsov NK-12MA engines that jointly produce 60,000 horsepower.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">At its creation, the An-22 was acclaimed as the largest aircraft worldwide, although it's since lost that title. Boasting a 190-foot length and a wingspan of 211 feet 3.5 inches, the An-22 is a monolithic presence. It stands just over 41 feet tall, emptying at a weight of 251,327 lbs. (125.7 tons), and a maximum takeoff weight reaching 551,156 lbs. (275.6 tons). Despite its turboprop engines, it bears significant payload capacity.</p>
<p>Turboprops, known for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, often power sizable transport planes such as the C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop transport. Built for both civilian and military logistics, the An-22 primarily serves military purposes, carrying 176,370 lbs. (88.2 tons) of payload, a crew of six, and accommodates up to 29 passengers. It reaches speeds of Mach 0.6 (460.4 mph) and a max range of 3,107 miles when fully laden.</p>
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<h2 class="">Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">The C-5M Super Galaxy, the U.S. Air Force's largest strategic airlifter, saw its introduction in 1970, with 131 units produced until the production line ceased in the 1980s. Modernizing this giant with upgrades suitable for the 21st century ensured its continued service life past the 2020s. The C-5M, a colossus with five landing-gear assemblies and 28 wheels, supports the airplane's incredible weight when fully loaded.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.slashgear.com/1670649/how-heavy-lockheed-c-5-galaxy-plane-carry-capacity/" target="_blank">The C-5 Galaxy's massive carry capacity</a> reaches 281,101 lbs. (140.6 tons). Without refueling, the C-5M has a reach of 5,525 miles, with a top speed of Mach 0.67 (518 mph). Four F-138-GE100 General Electric engines, providing 205,000 pounds of thrust, are vital for maneuvering this enormous aircraft through the skies. The C-5M's structure includes a 222-foot 9-inch wingspan and a length of 247 feet 10 inches.</p>
<p>Rising to 65 feet 1 inch tall, the C-5M has a cargo hold of 13 feet 6 inches in height, 19 feet in width, and 143 feet 9 inches in length, allowing accommodation of 36 pallets. Capable of aerial refueling, the C-5M was transformed into a "Huge floating gas station" in December 2023, when Airmen successfully reverse-flowed fuel from the aircraft to a KC-10 Extender. This innovation extends the utilization of its onboard fuel capacity of 51,150 gallons, enhancing operational flexibility.</p>
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<h2 class="">Antonov An-124 Ruslan</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">Developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s, the Antonov An-124 Ruslan is a formidable strategic airlifter, first operational in 1987, with 55 constructions completed before production halted. As of 2025, it remains the largest military transport aircraft, celebrated for its immense cargo capability. Housing a six-member crew and 88 passengers alongside the main cargo area, it supports a total payload of 330,695 lbs. (150 tons).</p>
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<p dir="ltr">To power this colossal machine, the An-124 relies on four ZMKB Progress (Lotarev) D18T turbofan engines, bestowing a combined thrust of 206,360 pounds. The aircraft's maximum takeoff weight reaches 892,875 lbs. (446.4 tons). Despite such weight, it cruises at Mach 0.7 (547.48 mph). Its dimensions are as impressive, measuring 226 feet 9 inches in length, 68 feet 2 inches in height, with a wingspan of 240 feet 6 inches.</p>
<p>Remarkably, despite its size, pilots report the An-124 as extraordinarily maneuverable, a far cry from what most viewers would assume witnessing the massive aircraft on a runway. Although created for the Soviet military, several An-124s have found roles in commercial transports and humanitarian missions. Its 150-ton cargo capability makes it versatile for diverse tasks.</p>
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<h2 class="">Antonov An-225 Mriya</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">The Soviet-designed Antonov An-225 Mriya was built in the 1980s as a strategic airlift aircraft. Unfortunately, only one unit was constructed, which was destroyed during the Battle of Antonov Airport in 2022 by Russian Federation forces. As the heaviest and largest aircraft ever created, the An-225 boasted incredible features, including its unprecedented maximum takeoff weight of 1.2+ million lbs. (617 tons). The An-225 was designed to carry enormous items by air, including the Buran spaceplane for the Soviet Space Program.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">Finding space for heavy objects, the An-225 measured 275 feet long and nearly 60 feet tall, with a wingspan of 290 feet. It was equipped with six Progress D-18T turbofan engines, the same as those powering the An-124, delivering a combined thrust of 310,032 pounds, allowing it to hit cruise speeds of Mach 0.68 (528 mph). Considering its size, the performance is noteworthy, as it could travel 9,569 miles with a 99,567-gallon fuel capacity.</p>
<p>In terms of carrying capacity, the An-225's max payload reached 551,156 lbs. (275.6 tons), theoretically able to carry the Antonov An-22 Antei at its peak load, or even attaching it atop, similar to the Soviet space shuttle transportation method. Despite its destruction, the An-225 was a fascinating part of aviation history, holding numerous records for many years.</p>
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