The C-17 Globemaster III is the US Air Force’s second largest airlifter, following the C-5M Super Galaxy. The Globemaster production line was shut down in 2015, and there is no clear replacement plan, therefore the US Air Force will continue to fly them for many years. As airplanes age, parts become obsolete or break down and need to be replaced.
The C-17 Globemaster’s Heads-Up Display (HUD) technology has been improved throughout time. The Globemasters (and several Hercules aircraft) now have upgraded Heads-Up Display systems supplied by Elbit Systems, an Israeli manufacturer. Boeing has contracted Elbit to improve the Globemaster’s HUD systems.
C-17 Globemaster, the US Air Force’s strategic transport
The C-17 is a high-wing, four-engine, T-tail military strategic carrier designed to transport heavy equipment, supplies, and troops anywhere in the world (including small airfields). It has been called upon to offer logistical assistance for all global operations since the 1990s.
According to Boeing: “The C-17 fleet has a best-in-class combined dollar per flight hour and mission capable rate, performing at the highest level of readiness worldwide.” The United States operates the vast majority (222), while India has the second-largest fleet (11 Globemasters).
| C-17 Globemaster III operators: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Royal Australian Air Force: | Royal Canadian Air Force: | Indian Air Force |
| Kuwaiti Air Force | Qatar Emiri Air Force | UAE Air Force |
| Royal Air Force (UK) | United States Air Force | NATO Airlift Management |
Future partial replacements for the C-17 Globemaster III could take several forms, such as blended wing body aircraft, STOVL aircraft, or the SpaceX Starship.
Since the C-17 production line was shut down, Boeing has considered reviving it because to demand from other governments (particularly Saudi Arabia). The Globemaster is now operated by eight countries, including the United Kingdom, India, and Australia.
Planned C-17 Globemaster III upgrades
The US Air Force is regularly upgrading its Boeing C-17 and Lockheed Martin C-130H aircraft. This is mainly due to the increasing difficulty in procuring certain of the jet’s parts.According to Defense Daily, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) reports that “Diminishing Manufacturing Sources Material Shortfalls (DMSMS) are driving avionics-related upgrades.”
“The C-17 airplane was last produced in 2015, and most of its unique avionics boxes are no longer in production or available for purchase. The C-17 program has been advised that on most avionics systems, electronic piece parts are already or will become unavailable for avionics box repairs.
Piece part vendors modify product ranges as the electronics industry evolves to support current electronics systems in production with high capabilities.”- Defense Daily reports that the AFLCMC C-17 program office (AFLCMC/WLM) is located at Robins AFB.
The Air Force’s contract with Boeing calls for “notification when a supplier projects that repair of a C-17 part will no longer be supported.”
BAE Systems (which acquired the defunct GEC Avionics) has informed the Air Force that its capacity to repair the C-17 Legacy Head-Up Display is currently limited due to a lack of component parts provided by sub-vendors.
The journal reported on a variety of additional aircraft modifications. These include modifications to satellite communications, the installation of the JetWave Ka-band fuselage-mounted antenna (which will give real-time weather, video conferencing, and other capabilities), hardware and software for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out) enhancements, and more.
Other major enhancements include modifications to the Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF) system and other software updates that improve communication and navigation capabilities.
Upgrades from Elbit Systems
The upgrades, which will be reported in 2020, include a nearly $286 million C-17 Replacement Head-Up Display (RHUD) contract with Elbit Systems of America.Elbit secured the contract for the C-17 RHUD in 2011.
“Elbit Systems designs, develops, and manufactures a wide variety of high-performance head-up displays (HUDs) and HUD modifications. Our product line comprises HUDs designed for fighter aircraft cockpits, cargo carriers, commercial commuters, and private business planes. – Elbit Systems
Elbit is Israel’s largest defense contractor, known for its high-tech upgrade systems for numerous types of aircraft. Elbit will supply air defense systems for the German Air Force’s new A350 VIP aircraft, including J-MUSIC DIRCM laser systems.
Elbit Systems for the Globemaster include a Projector Unit (PU) and a Computer Unit (CU) that “displays symbols and real-world conformal imagery over an increased field of view to include the capability to display threat warnings and quadrant, supports two independently selectable video inputs for autonomous landing growth requirements, provides aircraft Electronic Bore-sighting capability, [and] provides improved reliability with a Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of 3.”
These HUDs use modern technology to provide high-resolution displays, increased video capabilities, and low power consumption.
Elbit military transport heads-up displays are also used on the C-130 Hercules family of tactical airlifters, the medium Airbus C295 (previously EADS CASA C-295) transport, and Brazil’s Embraer C-390 Millennium airlifter (which competes with the C-130J Super Hercules).
Additional Heads-Up Display enhancements
In December 2024, the US Department of Defense revealed that Boeing has awarded $51.3 million for a C-17 Heads-Up Display Retrofit (including those in service in the UK and other countries). The contract was for the acquisition and supply of kits and spare parts to retrofit and maintain the aircraft’s heads-up display systems.
The Pentagon said: “Work will be performed in Long Beach, California, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2028.” The contract is overseen by the US Air Force’s Lifecycle Management Center at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.
Elbit Systems is a leader in head-up displays.
Elbit has emerged as one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-performance heads-up displays. More than 5,000 Elbit HUDs are in use on a wide range of aircraft, from fighters to military transports.
Elbit Systems has also developed customized HUD systems for commercial aircraft (including business jets). FedEx picked Elbit to supply HUDs for its cargo aircraft fleet.
Elbit Systems offers a diverse range of products for commercial aviation and military applications. Our HUD systems are fully adjustable and available in overhead or panel-mounted configurations. They can be installed in advanced cockpit configurations alongside a Large Area Display (LAD) using our low-profile HUD series.
| Aircraft with Elbit 967 HUD Series | ||
| F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet | SEPECAT Jaguar (Anglo-French attack aircraft) | Su-30 (Russian-origin fighter jet) |
| Super Tucano (Brazilian light fighter/advanced trainer) | T-38 Talon (advanced trainer) | Northrop F-5 (light fighter) |
| AMX (Italian/Brazilian ground-attack aircraft) | MiG-29 (Soviet fighter jet) | T-50 Golden Eagle (Korea) |
| Kfir (Israeli fighter based on Mirage 5) | ||
| Aircraft with Elbit Low Profile HUD | ||
| F-15 Eagle family fighter jet | F/A-18 Hornet family fighter jet | Saab Gripen fighter jet |
| Military Transport HUD | ||
| C-130 Hercules family | C-17 Globemaster III | Airbus C295 (EADS CASA C-295) |
| Embraer C-390 Millennium | ||
| ELH 10/12/15 HUD | ||
| Dassault Falcon 8X | Dassault Falcon 900 | Dassault Falcon 2000 |
| Bombardier Challenger 600 series | Yakovlev MC-21 (Russian passenger aircraft) | |
Surprisingly, Elbit’s heads-up displays are installed aboard American, Israeli, Brazilian, Russian, Italian, Swedish, and other military aircraft. It is uncertain whether the MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-30s are in Russian service or in service with other countries (including India).
Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Embraer, South Korea’s KAI, Dassault Aviation, and other air forces have all signed contracts with Elbit. Elbit DNA ca
n be found in many more military aircraft than those listed here.
Elbit claims its head-up displays can be sold as “part of a system solution and are readily integrated with cutting-edge sensors such as an Enhanced Vision System (EVS), Synthetic Vision System (SVS) and Combined Vision System (CVS), allowing increased situational awareness, lower minima credit and increased safety for the pilot.”
Notably, Elbit provides HUDs for Russia’s Yakovlev MC-21 passenger plane (a Boeing 737 rival). Due to international sanctions, Russia has been compelled to develop indigenous substitutes for imported parts, which account for approximately 60% of the aircraft’s components, including engines.
Israel has not joined the international sanctions on Russia, although it is unknown whether Elbit is still delivering parts for the MC-21.