WeaponSpecs

Most powerful transport aircraft

7 of the 20 transport aircraft in the WeaponSpecs database publish an engine power figure. Ranked on the published number alone, highest first, with no weighting and no composite score. The 13 transport aircraft with no published figure are not ranked, absent data is never treated as a low value.

1 of the 7 entries below (China) rest on manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification, marked † in the table. Treat their position in this ranking as directional, not tested.
Most powerful transport aircraft, ranked by published engine power
# System Engine power Source
1 Y-9

China flag Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC)

5,100 hp reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

2 C-130J Super Hercules

United States flag Lockheed Martin

4,591 hp reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

3 AC-130J Ghostrider

United States flag Lockheed Martin

4,591 hp reference ↗

checked 2026-07-02

4 PLS A2 (Palletized Load System)

United States flag Oshkosh Defense

600 hp reference ↗

checked 2026-08-02

5 HEMTT M977

United States flag Oshkosh Defense

515 hp reference ↗

checked 2026-07-04

6 MTVR (Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement)

United States flag Oshkosh Defense

425 hp reference ↗

checked 2026-07-19

7 FMTV A2 (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles)

United States flag Oshkosh Defense

330 hp reference ↗

checked 2026-07-19

Compiled from public manufacturer, defense-ministry and reference sources. Published defense figures are approximations and are often stated under different conditions, so treat this ordering as directional rather than a tested result. A board is only generated where at least 5 systems in the class publish the figure. How we compile specs →

Other transport aircraft rankings

Engine power in other classes