Boeing secures USAF contract to modernize C-17 Globemaster III cockpit

Boeing has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to design, integrate and certify a modernized flight deck for the C-17A Globemaster III, a program intended to address avionics obsolescence and extend the operational life of the aircraft well into the coming decades.

The effort, formally known as the C-17 Flight Deck Obsolescence and Technology Refresh program, covers the development of new cockpit systems based on a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA).

The approach is intended to replace aging mission-critical equipment with modular hardware and software, allowing future upgrades to be introduced more quickly and at lower cost.

The USAF currently operates 219 C-17A aircraft. Three airframes have been removed from service since deliveries began, including one lost in a fatal accident. Boeing produced a total of 275 C-17s between 1993 and 2015, with 222 delivered to the U.S. Air Force and 53 to international operators. Together, these fleets are supported through a common global sustainment framework.

As part of the modernization effort, Curtiss-Wright has been selected by Boeing to supply new mission computers for the upgraded cockpit. The systems are designed to comply with MOSA standards and are intended to support increased computing performance, technology insertion and long-term availability. Curtiss-Wright said the contract associated with its role in the program could exceed $400 million over its lifetime.

The C-17 has served as the backbone of U.S. strategic airlift operations since the early 1990s, supporting global transport of troops, vehicles and oversized cargo. The avionics refresh is expected to ensure continued interoperability with allied fleets and maintain the aircraft’s relevance in joint and multinational operations as the USAF plans to keep the type in service until at least 2075.

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