Originally Posted by Akita

The C-5 is an excellent transport, which is why the Antonov bureau improved on it with it An-124 and An-225, both larger aircraft. The galaxy, both the C-5A and the C-5B are being modernised with new cockpits, modern engines, skin re-working, etc... under a multi-billion dollar program precisley because they are indispensable to the U.S. military effort. BTW, we have over a hundred of them, not fifty.
The U.S. military leases An-124s only when it runs out of available capacity in C-5s and C-17s. The An-124 is a good aircraft but USAF does not like to employ them for the simple reason that they are not familier with thier Russian/Ukrainian technolagy.
Also, BTW: Canada is buying 4 C-17s, Australia is buying 4 C-17s and UK is planning to add 2 more. All these countries were offered IL-76 Candids as well as An-124 Ruslans. Each of them chose the "over priced" American lifter.
The reason being...The C-17 Globemaster 3 is the best damned hauler on the planet. USAF is up to 180 on order and congress wants to buy more.