- Britain's heavy-lift workhorse has delivered aid, evacuated civilians, and sustained operations on every continent
- The C-17 Globemaster can carry 45,360 kg of cargo over 4,500 miles — the equivalent of three double-decker buses
- The aircraft has been first on the ground in some of the world's most dangerous and remote locations
When crisis strikes, it flies first
British citizens in crisis zones, allied forces needing urgent resupply, and communities struck by disaster have all depended on the same aircraft for a quarter of a century. The Royal Air Force is marking 25 years since Globemaster entered service with 99 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton (23 May 2001).
Globemaster is the RAF's primary heavy-lift transport. It can fly troops, vehicles, and specialist equipment to any point on the globe at altitudes above 35,000 feet, and land on rough or short runways just 90 feet wide.
A record of action
Globemaster was central to Operation Pitting, the evacuation of over 15,000 people from Kabul in 2021 and has sustained continuous support to Ukraine and other operations worldwide. It carries out long-distance medical evacuations, delivers humanitarian aid, and transports Chinook helicopters and armoured vehicles to forward locations. The C-17 is often the first military aircraft to arrive in a crisis and the last to leave.
Built to go further
The Globemaster is the RAF's primary heavy-lift transport. It can fly troops, vehicles, and specialist equipment to any point on the globe at altitudes above 35,000 feet, and land on rough or short runways just 90 feet wide.
The RAF's fleet of eight aircraft continues to develop new capabilities, including night operations, troop drops from altitude, and landings on unprepared terrain. These advances ensure Globemaster remains ready for the full range of combat, peacekeeping, and humanitarian missions.
And finally
Without strategic airlift, there is no deployment, no disaster response. Without airborne delivery, there is no theatre entry. Every C-17 sortie demonstrates preparedness; every humanitarian mission is a demonstration of values. The C-17 is your RAF doing what it was built to do: quietly, professionally, every single day.
