The company Radia, based in Colorado, United States, revealed this week at the annual Air & Space Force Association conference a scale model of the WindRunner, a large cargo jet still in the design phase, expected to fly for the first time in 2030.
Originally designed to transport 300-foot wind turbine blades, the aircraft could eventually be adapted to carry tanks, helicopters, military equipment, and oversized cargo, offering up to seven times the volume of a C-5 and twelve times that of a C-17. The elevated cockpit above the cargo hold provides additional vertical space, facilitating loading of large items, and the WindRunner would be capable of taking off and landing on relatively short 6,000-foot runways.
Although the range is limited to around 1,200 miles with a full load, Radia states that the aircraft could be refueled in-flight for military missions. With a capacity of 72.6 tons of cargo and 270,000 cubic feet of internal space, the WindRunner offers volume advantages compared to current military transport aircraft, which often require equipment to be disassembled to fit into cargo holds.
The company emphasized that the aircraft uses proven and certified systems, making the transition from concept to production and potential commercial and military operation easier.
The U.S. Air Force is still studying the replacement of the C-5 and C-17 with the future Next Generation Airlift (NGAL) platform, considering speed, operational flexibility, and threat defense. While the WindRunner represents an ambitious and niche proposal, it could fill gaps in transporting very large cargo, both under commercial contracts and for specific military missions.
Radia has already raised over $150 million for the project and is seeking additional support for development and production, without yet having determined the manufacturing location.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @Osint613 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
