On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of State approved the potential sale to Canada of a support and modification package for its fleet of Boeing CC-177 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft (the local designation for the C-17A) worth up to 540 million USD.
Photos: RCAF
According to the published information, the government in Ottawa requested the possible acquisition of a package of major and minor aircraft modifications, aircraft support equipment, ground-handling equipment, spare parts, consumables and accessories, repair and return support, classified and unclassified software and delivery support, classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation, engineering, technical, and logistics support services provided by the U.S. government and the contractor, Boeing, as well as other related elements of logistics and program support.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) operates five CC-177 Globemaster III aircraft with 429 Transport Squadron, subordinate to 8 Wing at CFB Trenton in Ontario. The first four were delivered in 2007–2008, and the fifth in 2015.
Within the RCAF, these are the heaviest airlift assets, intended for responding to crises at home and abroad and supporting a variety of missions, including strategic transport of cargo – including troops, military equipment, and oversized loads – humanitarian assistance, peacetime support, and combat operations. The aircraft can land on short, unprepared runways. They have supported Canadian contingents deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and, most recently, Latvia.
It is worth noting that, on February 9 this year, Boeing signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to modernize the cabins of C-17A Globemaster III aircraft in order to extend their service life in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On August 26, 2025, the U.S. Department of State approved the potential sale to the United Kingdom of a technical support package for its fleet of eight C-17A Globemaster III ER aircraft.
Between 1993 and 2015, Boeing delivered 275 C-17A aircraft. The U.S. Air Force had received 222 aircraft by 2013, while the remaining 53 were delivered to international partners, creating a well-established, fully integrated virtual fleet support system covering nine partner nations. In addition to Canada and the United Kingdom, the aircraft were also delivered to Australia, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, as well as to the NATO Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) consortium in Europe.
At the same time, Boeing is considering restarting serial production of the aircraft with new avionics and engines. The company is reportedly holding talks with undisclosed potential new customers; in April 2025, reports emerged of interest from Japan.
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