Analysis of the C-17 Acquisition: Did the Air Force Get Their Money’s Worth?

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Airlift is the cornerstone of all military contingency operations. You can’t win the fight if you can’t get there. In the late 1970s, the Air Force realized the need to replace aircraft in its current aging fleet. The C-5 and C-141 were already past their prime years and it was time to lobby for a new airlifter. The McDonnell Douglas C-17 was selected as a replacement, but cost overruns and mismanagement plagued the program for years. Stretching the acquisition of the C-17 out over time created critics who believed the program was not worth the money and even questioned the Air Force"s need to replace current airlift aircraft with the C-17. This research study reviews the timeline, performance, and value of the C-17. It identified problems, changes, and improvements in the C-17 program. It also focused on the performance of the jet as compared to the older airlift models it replaced. Findings were conclusive. Delays and cost overruns in the program resulted in the Air Force paying too much for the C-17; however, they received a high performance aircraft that exceeded their expectations.