The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a contract to modernize the C-17A Globemaster III flight deck, ensuring the long-serving strategic airlifter remains operationally relevant for decades. The program includes the design, production, integration, testing, and military certification of upgraded avionics and mission systems. Legacy cockpit equipment will be replaced with Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA)-based technology, allowing plug-and-play upgrades and faster integration of future capabilities at reduced cost. Boeing has selected Curtiss-Wright to provide advanced mission computers supporting the modernization effort. The C-17, operational since 1995, can carry over 170,000 pounds of cargo or up to 100 paratroopers and perform tactical airlift, airdrop, and aeromedical evacuation missions. With more than 200 aircraft in service, the USAF plans to operate the fleet through 2070 while studying re-engining options and exploring a Next Generation Airlift platform projected for the late 2030s.
