Boeing C-17 Globemaster III vs Kawasaki C-5
Side-by-side spec comparison with neutral percentage deltas.
Spec table
| Spec | Boeing C-17 Globemaster III | Kawasaki C-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Max speed (mph) (mph) | 515 | 209 |
| Max speed (Mach) (Mach) | 0.77 | — |
| Combat radius / range (mi) | 5,610 | 665 |
| Service ceiling (ft) | 45,000 | 22,966 |
| MTOW (lb) | 585,000 | 6,305 |
| Empty weight (lb) | 282,500 | 3,803 |
| Payload (lb) | 170,900 | — |
| Length (ft) | 174 | 30 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 169.8 | 44 |
Green = leader on that dimension. Higher is treated as better for all rows shown.
On-paper verdict
- Max speed (mph): Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (+146%)
- Combat radius / range: Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (+744%)
- Service ceiling: Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (+96%)
- MTOW: Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (+9178%)
- Empty weight: Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (+7328%)
- Length: Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (+480%)
- Wingspan: Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (+286%)
Performance
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III tops out at 515 mph and a service ceiling of 45000 ft. Kawasaki C-5 is rated at 209 mph with a service ceiling of 22966 ft.
Range & payload
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III carries up to 170900 lb over 5610 mi. Kawasaki C-5 carries — lb over 665 mi. Numbers above are the headline manufacturer figures — real-world performance trades payload against range against fuel reserves.
Engines
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III: 4x Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan (40,440 lbf each).
Kawasaki C-5: —.
Frequently asked questions
Which is faster, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III or Kawasaki C-5?
515 mph (Boeing C-17 Globemaster III) vs 209 mph (Kawasaki C-5).
Which has the longer range?
5610 mi (Boeing C-17 Globemaster III) vs 665 mi (Kawasaki C-5).
What's the payload difference?
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III: 170900 lb · Kawasaki C-5: — lb.
Are these specs current?
Specs come from each aircraft's manufacturer-published or Wikipedia-aggregated figures, current as of the page's last regeneration. Variants and block upgrades may carry different numbers — check the linked reference pages for the latest.
Which one was built first?
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III: service entry 1993. Kawasaki C-5: service entry 1934.
Sources
Spec values pulled from each aircraft's reference page in the gallery, which aggregates manufacturer-published figures with Wikipedia-cited sources:
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