WindRunner: US Startup Unveils Giant Military Cargo Plane Concept to Transport F-35s and Chinooks

A US-based startup is proposing one of the most ambitious military airlift concepts in decades — a superheavy cargo aircraft capable of transporting four F-35 stealth fighters or two CH-47 Chinook helicopters internally. Dubbed the WindRunner, the aircraft would dwarf even the C-5M Super Galaxy and Antonov An-124 in length. While still in early development and originally conceived for wind turbine logistics, Radia now sees defense applications as a key opportunity.

From Wind Turbines to Warfighters: The Origins of WindRunner

Radia (formerly Radia Inc.), a Colorado-based aerospace startup focused on renewable energy logistics, initially designed the WindRunner as a commercial solution for transporting massive wind turbine blades — some exceeding 100 meters in length — directly to remote installation sites. Traditional rail and road networks struggle with such oversized loads.

However, in 2024 Radia began actively pitching the WindRunner platform for military use. According to CEO Mark Lundstrom, the aircraft’s enormous internal volume and runway independence could fill capability gaps in strategic lift — especially for moving high-value platforms like stealth fighters without exposing them to damage or surveillance during transit.

The company has established a new division called “Radia Defense” dedicated to pursuing Department of Defense (DoD) contracts and partnerships. While no formal agreements have been announced as of June 2024, Radia claims it is engaged in exploratory discussions with U.S. military stakeholders.

Design Features and Projected Specifications

The WindRunner is envisioned as an ultra-large cargo aircraft with specifications that push beyond current military lift platforms:

• Length: ~108 meters (354 feet), longer than both the C-5M (75 m) and An-124 (69 m)
• Cargo Bay Dimensions: Designed to accommodate four F-35A/B/C variants or two CH-47F Chinooks
• Payload Capacity: Estimated at ~100 metric tons
• Range: Unspecified; likely intercontinental with aerial refueling
• Runway Requirements: Short takeoff/landing capabilities on semi-prepared surfaces are planned but not yet validated

The aircraft would reportedly use conventional turbofan propulsion rather than exotic hybrid-electric systems. Its high-wing design with multi-bogie landing gear aims to distribute weight across unprepared runways — echoing some features seen on Soviet-era Antonov designs.

Strategic Airlift Gaps Driving Interest

The U.S. Air Force’s current heavy-lift fleet consists primarily of C-17 Globemaster III (~77-ton payload) and legacy C-5M Super Galaxy (~127-ton payload). However, both platforms are aging — particularly the C-5M fleet — and face increasing maintenance demands.

The USAF’s Mobility Capabilities Requirements Study (MCRS) has flagged potential shortfalls in strategic lift capacity by the early 2030s if recapitalization does not occur. Meanwhile, adversaries like China are expanding their own heavy-lift fleets (e.g., Y-20B with WS-20 engines).

A platform like WindRunner could offer unique advantages:

• Sheltered transport of stealth assets: Reduces exposure risks during ferry flights or deployments
• Semi-prepared runway operation: Enables forward basing closer to contested zones
• Larger internal volume than any existing NATO platform: Useful for oversized ISR systems or mobile command posts

If realized at scale, it could also support rapid deployment of expeditionary units under Agile Combat Employment (ACE) doctrine — where dispersal and mobility are critical against peer threats.

Caveats: No Prototype Yet Built

No physical prototype of the WindRunner exists as of mid–2024. All available images are renderings based on CAD models. While Radia claims it will begin construction “as early as late 2025,” this timeline is highly optimistic given regulatory hurdles and funding needs.

The company has not disclosed its aerospace partners nor whether it has secured FAA certification pathways or DoD technology readiness assessments (TRAs). Building an entirely new category of superheavy transport aircraft would require billions in R&D investment over many years — typically only feasible via government-backed programs like those managed by DARPA or AFWERX.

The lack of performance validation raises multiple concerns among analysts:

• No wind tunnel data or flight testing benchmarks have been published
• Aerodynamic stability at such scale remains unproven outside simulation environments
• No details on avionics architecture or defensive countermeasures have been provided

Plausibility vs Vision: Industry Reactions Mixed

Aerospace experts remain divided on whether WindRunner represents disruptive innovation or speculative vaporware. Some praise its boldness amid stagnation in heavy-lift R&D; others question its business case absent firm procurement interest from DoD clients.

“The idea isn’t crazy,” said Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory in a May interview. “But scaling up that fast without customer buy-in is risky.” He noted that even Lockheed Martin’s LMH Heavy Lift Helicopter concept remains unfunded despite clear Army interest in future vertical lift logistics solutions.

If Radia can secure early-stage SBIR/STTR grants from AFWERX or DIU programs — or attract private defense venture capital — it may be able to build a demonstrator within five years. But full-rate production would likely require USAF endorsement under programs like AMC Next Gen Airlifter Initiative.

A Glimpse into Future Logistics Doctrine?

If successful even at limited scale, WindRunner-type platforms could reshape how militaries think about global force projection. Rather than relying solely on tanker-supported ferry flights for stealth jets across oceans — which expose them to peacetime surveillance risks from adversary ISR assets — enclosed transport offers both operational security and logistical flexibility.

This aligns with broader trends toward modularity and survivability across NATO force posture planning post–Ukraine war. As peer conflict scenarios become more plausible across Indo-Pacific theaters where basing access may be constrained, large-scale autonomous or semi-autonomous transports could play an outsized role in maintaining deterrence through mobility.