6 Military Aircraft With The Largest Payload Capacity

The largest military aircraft by payload capacity ever built was the Antonov An-225. However, only one aircraft was built, and that was destroyed in 2022. Other aircraft that could have made it onto the list include the Antonov An-22 Antei (max payload 176,000 lbs) and the McDonnell Douglas DC10 Extender (max payload 170,000 lbs). However, these, too, have retired except for a pair of ex-Dutch KDC-10 operated by Omega Aerial Refueling Services.