Boeing has awarded Intellisense Systems to provide new avionics components for the US Air Force C-17 Flight Deck Replacement program.
Boeing has awarded California-based Intellisense Systems a contract to provide new avionics components for the over $400-million US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III Flight Deck Replacement program.
The deal includes delivery of Data Concentrator Units, which collect and convert real-time sensor data — such as engine temperature, oil pressure, and fuel levels — into digital formats for pilot displays.
The units incorporate a multi-core single-board computer and advanced video interfaces to connect the aircraft’s mission computer with its primary flight displays.
The contract also includes 15-inch (38-centimeter) Multifunction Displays, featuring one of the highest-resolution displays available for military applications.
These displays integrate advanced video and data processing capabilities, providing a modern pilot-vehicle interface with both bezel-based tactile controls and touchscreen functionality.
“The Intellisense team is proud to collaborate with Boeing on this essential upgrade for the US Air Force,” Intellisense Systems CEO Robert Waldo said.
“By delivering ruggedized, modular computing together with our flagship primary flight displays, we are ensuring the long-term readiness of a platform that is indispensable to global logistics.”
Flight Deck Upgrade
Earlier this year, the US Air Force contracted Boeing to upgrade the C-17 flight deck, extending the aircraft’s operational relevance for decades.
The upgrade will replace legacy cockpit systems with a Modular Open Systems Architecture, enabling plug-and-play upgrades and allowing new capabilities to be integrated more quickly and cost-effectively.
As part of the effort, Boeing has selected Curtiss-Wright Corporation to supply mission computers for the aircraft.
The Globemaster III
The C-17 Globemaster III entered service in 1995 and is used for tactical airlift, airdrop missions, and aeromedical evacuation.
It can carry up to 170,900 pounds (77,519 kilograms) of cargo or up to 100 paratroopers, enabling rapid deployment to main bases or forward operating locations.
The aircraft is flown by a crew of two pilots and a loadmaster and is powered by four Pratt & Whitney PW2000 turbofan engines.
It has a top speed of 450 knots (518 miles/833 kilometers per hour), a range of 2,420 nautical miles (2,785 miles/4,482 kilometers), and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet (13,716 meters).
The US Air Force operates over 200 C-17s across active-duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve units, and plans to keep the fleet in service through 2070 while evaluating future upgrades and a potential replacement beginning in the late 2030s.
