 v2.jpg "On the left, two U.S. Air Force airmen wearing camouflage push at a pallet that is taller than they are. A third airman is dimly visible behind them, also pushing the pallet from left to right. The pallet is wrapped in a white covering and secured by a cargo net whose brown straps are connected by metal rings.")
Made in America by AbilityOne: A cargo net manufactured by The Abilities Connection, an AbilityOne-participating contractor based in Ohio, secures a pallet that U.S. Air Force airmen are loading onto a C-17 transport aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jared Lovett)
When the U.S. Air Force needs to transport cargo anywhere in the world, that cargo is secured with a cargo net that is made in America through the AbilityOne Program.
Employees with disabilities at The Abilities Connection (TAC), an AbilityOne-participating contractor in Ohio, have produced over 1.2 million cargo nets for the Air Force since 2005.
Each cargo net, which can secure loads up to 10,000 pounds, is a heavy-duty restraint system made of nylon straps connected by metal rings.
As of June 1, 2026, every cargo net is 100% sourced and manufactured in the United States.
TAC is the only provider of Air Force cargo nets, with a record of zero defects and 100% on-time delivery. In a single month, employees with disabilities can produce up to 4,800 cargo nets.
Ensuring a secure supply chain, TAC has reshored the heavy-duty metal rings that were historically manufactured abroad. TAC located a domestic manufacturer that could make the hardware using state-of-the-art automation that keeps down costs.
TAC employees also repair cargo nets, a service that has saved the U.S. Air Force over $45 million since 1985.
The cargo nets secure equipment, vehicles, or supplies on pallets transported by military aircraft including the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, and C-130 Hercules. Refueling planes such as the KC-10 Extender and KC-135 Stratotanker also use these cargo nets.
