Aerospace and energy firm Radia is developing the WindRunner, an ultra-large cargo aircraft that will offer 12 times the volume of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and is poised to become the world's largest aircraft, reported Arizona's electronics journal Slashgear.

The WindRunner will serve both commercial and military roles, with the ability to land on semi-prepared strips as short as 6,000 feet. Its design allows for transport of military systems without disassembly or specialised facilities, improving operational efficiency.

The C-17, operational since 1995, has a maximum payload of 170,900 pounds and can land on runways as short as 3,500 feet. It has long been the backbone of US airlift operations, supporting missions from equipment transport to paratrooper deployment.

Radia's WindRunner will offer over 240,139.7 cubic feet of cargo space, capable of carrying six CH-47 Chinooks, 12 AH-64 Apaches, F-35s, F-16s and CV-22 Ospreys. In contrast, the C-17 can carry only two Apaches per sortie.

The aircraft's short takeoff and landing capabilities will enable operations in remote or undeveloped regions. Its volume and payload optimizations are designed to support mobile hospitals, long-range radars and collaborative combat aircraft.

Development of the WindRunner is ongoing, with first flights expected by the end of the decade. The aircraft is being positioned as a transformative platform for global logistics and military mobility.