Modular Mission Computer Upgrades for the Air Force C-17 Globemaster III Fleet

February 11, 2026

Curtiss-Wright is providing Boeing with MOSA-aligned mission computers as part of an avionics upgrade program for the C-17 Globemaster III. (Image: Boeing)

Boeing has selected Curtiss‑Wright Corporation to supply a new generation of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)‑aligned mission computers for the U.S. Air Force’s C‑17 Globemaster III fleet . The upgrade is part of the C‑17 Flight Deck Obsolescence and Technology Refresh program, an effort intended to resolve aging avionics components while enabling future capability insertion across the aircraft’s remaining service life.

Originally flown in 1991, the four‑engine C‑17 remains the Air Force’s primary strategic and theater airlift platform, supporting global mobility, rapid troop deployment, and outsized cargo transport. The new mission computers are engineered to deliver higher‑performance processing, increased digital throughput, and an open‑architecture backbone that supports rapid integration of emerging technologies.

According to Boeing, the MOSA‑based design will introduce plug‑and‑play modularity, allowing the Air Force to field new mission applications, software updates, sensors, and cockpit enhancements more quickly and affordably. The architecture also provides a scalable path for avionics upgrades shaped by evolving operational needs, cybersecurity requirements, and international partner interoperability.

“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 at 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.”

Between 1993 and 2015, Boeing delivered 275 C‑17A aircraft, including 222 for the U.S. Air Force and 53 for international operators, forming a globally integrated sustainment enterprise across nine partner nations. The mission computer modernization forms a key element of keeping this coalition fleet supportable and technically aligned over the long term.

With MOSA‑enabled computing as the foundation, the C‑17 modernization effort is expected to enhance lifecycle affordability, reduce obsolescence risk, and ensure the airlifter can continuously adopt new capabilities.

Source¹

Source²