The US Air Force has granted Boeing a contract to modernize the flight deck of the C-17A Globemaster III, ensuring the long-term operational viability of the strategic airlifter.
The agreement includes the design, production, integration, testing, and military certification of upgraded avionics and mission-essential systems. Existing cockpit equipment will be replaced with advanced systems built on a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), allowing flexible, plug-and-play upgrades and enabling the fleet to incorporate new technologies quickly and cost-effectively.
As part of the modernization program, Boeing has selected Curtiss-Wright Corporation to supply updated mission computers for the aircraft.
By addressing avionics obsolescence and implementing MOSA standards, the upgrade aims to preserve the C-17’s proven reliability while maintaining its high levels of performance and efficiency well into the future.
C-17A Globemaster III Overview
In service since 1995, the C-17A supports tactical airlift, airdrop operations, and aeromedical evacuation missions. It can carry up to 170,900 pounds (77,519 kilograms) of cargo or transport as many as 100 paratroopers, enabling rapid deployment of personnel and equipment to main bases or forward operating locations.
Operated by two pilots and a loadmaster, the aircraft is powered by four Pratt & Whitney PW2000 turbofan engines. It has a maximum speed of 450 knots (518 mph / 833 km/h), a range of 2,420 nautical miles (2,785 miles / 4,482 kilometers), and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet (13,716 meters).
The US Air Force maintains a fleet of more than 200 C-17s across active-duty units, the Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve.
In November, the Air Force confirmed plans to keep the C-17 in service through 2070 and is exploring future upgrades, including potential re-engining. A study into a successor platform under the Next Generation Airlift program is scheduled for 2027, with production possibly commencing as early as 2038.
