February 25, 2006—The Pentagon has decided that it can get by with 292 strategic airlifters (buying a total of 180 C-17s and upgrading 112 C-5s) and 395 tactical airlifters (some combination of new C-130Js and sustained older C-130s). This chart shows the Congressional Budget Office’s projected age and inventory of USAF airlifters through 2024.
Source: Congressional Budget Office, “The Long Term Implications of Current Defense Plans and Alternatives: Detailed Update for Fiscal Year 2006.
