Boeing has received a $13.1-million contract from the US Department of Defense to upgrade infrared countermeasure systems on C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft used by Canada and Australia.
Designed to counter heat-seeking threats, infrared countermeasures deploy decoys such as flares, laser-based defenses, or electronic disruption systems that interfere with adversary targeting processes.
From Block 10 to Block 30
The modernization package will be applied to five C-17s in the Royal Canadian Air Force and eight in the Royal Australian Air Force. The upgrade transitions existing Block 10 systems to the advanced Block 30 configuration, with Boeing also providing installation and technical support. Work will take place at the company’s San Antonio, Texas site and is slated for completion by mid-2030, overseen by the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center in Georgia.
Enhancing American C-17s
In a related initiative, Boeing is upgrading the US Air Force’s C-17 flight decks to extend the fleet’s service life through 2075. The improvements include replacing mission computers to strengthen digital performance and enable integration of future technologies.
