The C-40 Clipper aircraft provides critical logistics support and cargo transportation to the U.S. Navy.
The U.S. Navy Reserve
The C-40 Clipper aircraft is a military version of the Boeing 737-700 series commercial transport airline. The C-40 Clipper has been modified to include a flight management computer system and integrated global positioning system (GPS). The aircraft also contains Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance systems to help with navigation. The C-40 Clipper is primarily operated by the U.S. Navy Reserve.
About 20 C-40 Clippers have been purchased by the U.S. military since the aircraft entered service in 2001. Each fully loaded airplane costs about $70 million to purchase. The U.S. Navy procured the C-40 Clipper to replace its aging fleet of C-9B Skytrain II aircraft. At the time it was purchased, the C-40 Clipper was the first new aircraft to enter service with the U.S. Navy Reserve in almost 20 years.
The U.S. Air Force
The C-40 Clipper has been praised for its payload, range and fuel efficiency. Because of the aircraft’s impressive performance with the U.S. Navy Reserve, the U.S. Air Force decided to procure a variant on the C-40 Clipper known as the "C-40B." The U.S. Air Force acquired the C-40B Clipper to replace its C-137 aircraft that had been used for transportation.
The main difference with the C-40B variant of the Clipper is that it is designed to function as a flying office for senior military personnel, politicians, and government leaders. The C-40B Clipper is outfitted with secure voice and data communications, satellite television, fax machines and Internet access. These features allow military and government leaders to conduct business anywhere in the world while in-flight.
The C-40 Clipper has proved popular across the U.S. military and more orders for the aircraft are on the way. The U.S. Navy Reserve has announced plans to procure an additional 23 C-40 Clippers, and the Air National Guard is also planning to acquire the aircraft.