Air Force Leaders: More Parts Key to Bringing Up C-5’s Low Readiness Rate

Why It Matters

Low readiness threatens strategic airlift capacity, and the funding aims to restore availability and sustain U.S. global mobility.

Key Takeaways

• C‑5 mission‑capable rate dropped to 37% in FY‑2024.
• FY‑2027 budget requests $24.7 B for aircraft sustainment.
• Over $4 B allocated for spare‑parts Working Capital Fund.
• Air Force plans to keep C‑5s operational through 2040.
• Tanker fleet target: 502 aircraft by FY‑2029, adding KC‑46s.

Pulse Analysis

The Air Force’s flagship airlifter, the C‑5 Galaxy, is now operating at a 37 percent mission‑capable rate, a steep drop from the 49 percent reported for fiscal 2024. Mission‑capable rates measure the percentage of aircraft ready to perform at least one core mission, and a sub‑40 percent figure signals a serious shortfall in strategic airlift capacity. With the C‑5 serving as the only platform capable of moving outsized cargo across inter‑theater distances, the decline threatens the service’s ability to support global operations, from humanitarian relief to rapid deployment of heavy equipment.

To reverse the trend, the Air Force’s FY‑2027 budget proposes $24.7 billion for aircraft sustainment and more than $4 billion for a Working Capital Fund dedicated to spare‑parts procurement. The infusion is intended to refurbish aging C‑5s, extend their service life to 2040, and keep the C‑17 fleet in a high‑readiness state. Simultaneously, the service is finalizing analysis for the Next Generation Airlifter (NGAL), a long‑term replacement that will eventually supersede both the C‑5 and C‑17. The dual approach of life‑extension and future acquisition aims to preserve mobility while modernizing the fleet.

The mobility overhaul also encompasses the tanker force, which must meet a National Defense Authorization Act mandate of 502 aircraft by fiscal 2029. Current inventories sit at roughly 475 tankers, prompting a $3.9 billion request for 15 additional KC‑46 Pegasus aircraft and an expected delivery of 20 more in 2027. Beyond numbers, the budget earmarks $105 million for battlefield‑connectivity upgrades, aligning tanker data links with fighter‑jet standards and improving survivability. Strengthening both lift and refuel capabilities is critical for sustaining U.S. power projection in contested regions such as the Indo‑Pacific.