On Monday, February 9, 2026, the American company Boeing announced that it had signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to modernize the cockpits of C-17A Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft in order to extend their service life in the U.S. Air Force (USAF).
Photo: Boeing
According to an earlier report by industry outlet Avionics International dated January 8 of this year, the contract was signed in mid-December 2025 and is valued at $266 million (approximately PLN 945.11 million). It is set to remain in effect through 2031.
The contract covers the design, production, integration, qualification, and military certification of a modernized cockpit for the C-17A Globemaster III. The program предусматриes replacing key avionics systems, including the primary mission computer with greater processing power, and other mission-essential equipment with a modern, open (modular) Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA). This plug-and-play approach will enable rapid and cost-effective capability upgrades across the fleet.
“The C‑17A has been the backbone of global air mobility for over three decades,” said Travis Williams, Vice President of United States Air Force Mobility & Training Services, Boeing. “With the U.S. Air Force requirement to keep the C-17A viable through 2075, we already have a clear and achievable roadmap to support their needs, and the needs of our international partners around the globe. By resolving avionics obsolescence and introducing MOSA, we’re preserving a proven, highly dependable, heavy airlifter and keeping it at the forefront of performance and efficiency for decades to come.”
As Avionics International explains in detail, the avionics suite will be redesigned using commercial off-the-shelf systems to address obsolescence issues affecting four critical line-replaceable units (LRUs) in the C-17 cockpit: the Multi-Function Display (MFD); the Integrated Core Processor / Replacement Core Integrated Processor / Modernized Replacement Integrated Core Processor (CIP/RCIP/MRCIP); the Video Integrated Processor (VIP); and the Standby Engine Display (SED).
The CIP/RCIP/MRCIP and MFD are obsolete, and current запас of spare parts is projected to sustain the C-17 fleet only through fiscal year 2027, according to the justification and approval document awarding the contract to Boeing. The CIP/RCIP/MRCIP serves as the mission computer and the central processing hub of the entire C-17 avionics system. It interfaces with approximately 36 flight- and safety-critical LRUs via two connected mission buses. Five of the six MFD/Heads-Up Displays must be operational for takeoff. These components are currently non-repairable due to their age and the obsolescence of their subcomponents.
Additionally, on February 9 of this year, Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced that it had been selected by Boeing as the primary subcontractor to supply the new main mission computers for the C-17A. The contract is valued at more than 400 million USD.
Between 1993 and 2015, Boeing delivered 275 C-17A aircraft. The U.S. Air Force received 222 aircraft by 2013, while international partners acquired the remaining 53, establishing a well-developed, fully integrated virtual fleet support system spanning nine partner nations (the aircraft were delivered to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait) as well as the European Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) consortium under NATO.
At the same time, Boeing is reportedly considering restarting serial production of the aircraft with new avionics and propulsion systems. The company is said to be in discussions with undisclosed potential new customers (in April 2025, there were reports of interest from Japan).
In parallel, the USAF plans to keep its 51 heaviest transport aircraft, the C-5M Super Galaxy, in service into the 2040s.
We’ve been awarded a new contract with the @usairforce to modernize flight decks for its C-17 aircraft.
This collaboration—which covers the design, manufacturing, integration, and qualification of the upgraded flight decks—will extend the life and capabilities of the USAF’s… pic.twitter.com/dXNpIxPmfQ
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) February 9, 2026