Boeing C-17 Globemaster III vs Boeing KC-46 Pegasus
Full specs: Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Boeing KC-46 Pegasus
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Boeing KC-46 Pegasus are both transport & tanker, compared here on public specifications. The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus leads on range (12,200 vs 4,482 km).
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Full data
Full spec sheet
| Performance | ||
| Max speed (km/h) | 830 km/h | 915 km/h ✓ |
| Cruise speed (km/h) | 830 km/h | N/A |
| Range (km) | 4,482 km | 12,200 km ✓ |
| Service ceiling (m) | 13,716 m ✓ | 12,000 m |
| Physical | ||
| Length (m) | 53 m | 50.5 m |
| Empty weight (kg) | 128,100 kg | 82,377 kg |
| Combat weight (kg) | 265,350 kg | N/A |
| Crew | 3 | 3 |
| Cargo payload (kg) | 77,519 kg ✓ | 29,500 kg |
| Troop capacity | 102 | 114 ✓ |
| Propulsion | ||
| Thrust (kN) | 180 kN | 275 kN ✓ |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | $340,000,000 | $152,000,000 ✓ |
| Units built | 279 ✓ | 89 |
| Operator countries | 8 ✓ | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
Which is faster, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Boeing KC-46 Pegasus? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is the fastest of the 2 compared here, at 915 km/h.
Which has the longer range? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus has the longest range at 12,200 km.
Which is cheaper? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus has the lower public unit-cost figure at 152,000,000 USD. Treat this as directional, defense pricing varies by contract and configuration.
Which has the higher cargo payload? +
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III has the higher cargo payload at 77,519 kg.
Which has the higher service ceiling? +
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III has the higher service ceiling at 13,716 m.
Which has the higher troop capacity? +
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus has the higher troop capacity at 114.
Is the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III better than the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus? +
On the public specs we track, the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus leads on 4 of 6 headline metrics, see the full spec sheet for the metric-by-metric breakdown.
Where does this comparison data come from? +
Every figure in the table is sourced from public manufacturer pages, defense-ministry releases and reference publications, and is verifiable on each system's spec page. WeaponSpecs does not accept vendor placement.
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