C-17 Globemaster III: Cost, Contracts & Timeline

Timeline4

Dec 1981MilestoneConfirmed
Earliest documented public appearance: published C-17 rendering
Earliest supported public appearance found in the sources reviewed for this research; not a claim of the first-ever announcement or original unveiling. Earlier evidence may revise this date. A named rendering appears on printed p. 137 of the December 1981 Air Force Magazine supplement. Uses publication-month precision and replaces the earlier inferred 1981 unveiling record.
Sep 15, 1991First flightConfirmed
C-17 maiden flight
Jun 14, 1993First deliveryConfirmed
First production C-17 delivered
Jan 17, 1995Initial operating capabilityConfirmed
First C-17 squadron operationally ready

Program and variant milestones. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Cost to the Government

Cost figures
Measure	Amount	Source
Program totals · 1
Development program totalA separately scoped historical development total has not been verified.	Not established	—
Unit costs · 1
Reported aircraft unit costAir Force fact-sheet figure; not the price of restarting the production line.	$202.3MConstant FY1998 $	C 17 GLOBEMASTER III fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure FY1998 dollar basis
Quantities · 2
Published U.S. inventory157 active + 47 Air National Guard + 18 Reserve; page does not establish a 2026 census.	222U.S. only	C 17 GLOBEMASTER III fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Air Force fact sheet, reviewed Oct 2026
Program quantityA separate acquisition quantity has not been verified.	Not established	—
Operating costs · 1
Annual O&S / aircraftGAO historical operating and support costs; fleet average, not a current-year estimate.	$16.04M / yrConstant FY2018 $	Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018

Program totals · 1

Development program totalA separately scoped historical development total has not been verified.
Source not recorded
Not established

Unit costs · 1

Reported aircraft unit costAir Force fact-sheet figure; not the price of restarting the production line.
C 17 GLOBEMASTER III fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure FY1998 dollar basis
$202.3MConstant FY1998 $

Quantities · 2

Published U.S. inventory157 active + 47 Air National Guard + 18 Reserve; page does not establish a 2026 census.
C 17 GLOBEMASTER III fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Air Force fact sheet, reviewed Oct 2026
222U.S. only
Program quantityA separate acquisition quantity has not been verified.
Source not recorded
Not established

Operating costs · 1

Annual O&S / aircraftGAO historical operating and support costs; fleet average, not a current-year estimate.
Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018
$16.04M / yrConstant FY2018 $

Earlier observations · 2

Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.

Earlier cost observations
Measure	Amount	Source
Annual O&S / aircraftSame GAO inflation-adjusted series. Changes can reflect fleet size and maintenance cycles.	$27.05M / yrConstant FY2018 $	Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2011
Annual O&S / aircraftGAO historical operating and support costs; fleet average, not a current-year estimate.	$16.04M / yrConstant FY2018 $	Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018

Annual O&S / aircraftSame GAO inflation-adjusted series. Changes can reflect fleet size and maintenance cycles.
Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2011
$27.05M / yrConstant FY2018 $
Annual O&S / aircraftGAO historical operating and support costs; fleet average, not a current-year estimate.
Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018
$16.04M / yrConstant FY2018 $

Sustainment is a separate purchase

The global support contract includes services over multiple years. It cannot be divided by U.S. inventory to produce the acquisition price of a C-17.

C-17 Globemaster III sustainment contract, September 2021 DoD Inspector General

Contracts & purchasing · 1

Ceilings, options and purchase agreements are not spending and are never added together. Obligations are under Contracts.

Contracts and purchasing
Buyer → seller	Status	Value	Qty	Source
U.S. Air Force / global sustainment customers → BoeingG3 support through 2031; ceiling is not obligations, spending, or aircraft procurement.	Maximum IDIQ sustainment value	$23.8B	—	C-17 Globemaster III sustainment contract, September 2021 DoD Inspector General · figure Sep 28, 2021

International buyers · 8

International buyers
Country	Qty	Status	Source
AustraliaBoeing identifies this operator in the global sustainment program; fleet quantity is not established by this source.	Not verified	Documented operator	Global C-17 sustainment partnership and international operators, September 29, 2021 Boeing · figure Sep 29, 2021
CanadaBoeing identifies this operator in the global sustainment program; fleet quantity is not established by this source.	Not verified	Documented operator	Global C-17 sustainment partnership and international operators, September 29, 2021 Boeing · figure Sep 29, 2021
IndiaBoeing identifies this operator in the global sustainment program; fleet quantity is not established by this source.	Not verified	Documented operator	Global C-17 sustainment partnership and international operators, September 29, 2021 Boeing · figure Sep 29, 2021
KuwaitBoeing identifies this operator in the global sustainment program; fleet quantity is not established by this source.	Not verified	Documented operator	Global C-17 sustainment partnership and international operators, September 29, 2021 Boeing · figure Sep 29, 2021
QatarBoeing identifies this operator in the global sustainment program; fleet quantity is not established by this source.	Not verified	Documented operator	Global C-17 sustainment partnership and international operators, September 29, 2021 Boeing · figure Sep 29, 2021
United Arab EmiratesBoeing identifies this operator in the global sustainment program; fleet quantity is not established by this source.	Not verified	Documented operator	Global C-17 sustainment partnership and international operators, September 29, 2021 Boeing · figure Sep 29, 2021
United KingdomBoeing identifies this operator in the global sustainment program; fleet quantity is not established by this source.	Not verified	Documented operator	Global C-17 sustainment partnership and international operators, September 29, 2021 Boeing · figure Sep 29, 2021
Strategic Airlift Capability (12-nation fleet)Boeing identifies this operator in the global sustainment program; fleet quantity is not established by this source.	Not verified	Documented operator	Global C-17 sustainment partnership and international operators, September 29, 2021 Boeing · figure Sep 29, 2021

Open research: Separately scoped historical R&D total remains unverified; missing is not zero. Quantity and cost figures retain their source dates. Historical snapshots are not a census of operational availability on the review date.

What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.

Contracts$24.35B obligated since FY2008

Explore in Awards →

Contractors8

Boeing$23.53B 97%
RTX$813M 3.3%
Honeywell International$2.4M 0.0%
Lockheed Martin$1.2M 0.0%
BAE Systems$708K 0.0%
Northrop Grumman$482K 0.0%
GE Aerospace$415K 0.0%

Awards50

Sort

Government awards. Select a sortable column heading to sort.
								Conf.
Boeing	C-17 LAIRCM UCA	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 14, 2014	$20.9M	$13.1M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	C-17 AIRCRAFT FOR KUWAIT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 16, 2013	$366M	$502M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	IGF::OT::IGF INITIAL SPARES AND PECULIAR SUPPORT EQUIPMENT FOR KUWAIT TO SUPPORT THEIR FIRST C-17 DELIVERY.	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 12, 2013	$62.0M	$62.7M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	IGF::OT::IGF ACAT II, C-17, CCP-1216C1, ANNEX C, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 28, 2013	$20.0M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	ACATII, C-17, PTP-0149 CNS/ATM PHASE 1	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 20, 2012	$37.5M	$1.0M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	AIRCRAFT SUSTAINMENT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 1, 2012	$2.29B	$985M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	DELIVERY ORDER #2 FY13	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 28, 2012	$244M	$25.9M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	C-17 QEC KITS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 28, 2012	$141M	$118M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	C-17 BLOCK SPARES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 31, 2012	$105M	$105M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	CV0634- FY10 QEC KITS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 6, 2012	$44.2M	$2.5M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	ACAT II, C-17, RAAF AIRCRAFT PURCHASE	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 18, 2012	$173M	$173M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	FY12 USAF A/C PRODUCTION BUY	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 18, 2012	$170M	$170M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING - MISCELANEOUS PARTS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 1, 2012	$117M	$7.8M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	CY12 MIP LABOR	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 26, 2012	$105M	$23.5M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	GRIP 10	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 29, 2012	$69.5M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	ACAT II C-17 LAIRCM KITS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 7, 2012	$110M	$19.4M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	UCA FOR10 INDIA C-17 AIRCRAFT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 1, 2012	$2.14B	$2.21B	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	ACAT II, C-17 PE/PI 2012 ANNEX C SOFTWARE ENG SUPP&INFRAST	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 29, 2011	$25.8M	$26.0M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PTP-0147 MODERNIZED REPLACEMENT CORE INTEGRATED PROCESSOR	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 25, 2011	$33.8M	$1.4M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	THIS ORDER COVERS ALL AIRCRAFT DEPOT AND MAINTENANCE AND MODIFICATION EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUSTAINMENT OF THE C-17 GLOBEMASTER III FLEET.	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 11, 2011	$244M	$30.5M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	THIS ORDER PROVIDES SUPPORT AND SUSTAINMENT SERVICES TO THE GOVERNMENT PRODUCT SUPPORT MANAGER (PSM)/ PRODUCT SUPPORT INTEGRATOR (PSI) FOR THE C-17 WEAPON SYSTEM. SUPPORT SHALL INCLUDE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT; LOGISTICS DATA, SUSTAINMENT ENGINEERING; QUALITY ASSURANCE; MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT; AIRCRAFT DEPOT MAINTENANCE AND MODIFICATION; INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT; FIELD SERVICES, F117 PROPULSION MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT, LONG-TERM SUSTAINMENT (LTS) PLANNING; AND AIR LOGISTICS CENTER PARTNERING SUPPORT FOR THE WORLDWIDE FLEET OF THE C-17 AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE VIRTUAL FLEET CONCEPT.	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 1, 2011	$3.68B	$253K	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AF (RAAF) PURCHASE OF AT-5	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 27, 2011	$170M	$170M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCIBILITY ENHANCEMENT / PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PE/PI) III - COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATION CAPABILITIES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 9, 2011	$19.7M	$1.1M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	FY10 UCA FOR 5 USAF A/C	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	May 13, 2011	$1.66B	$1.66B	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCIBILITY ENHANCEMENT/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PE/PI) III	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jan 13, 2011	$113M	$17.5M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Pratt & Whitney	PURCHASE OF 20 INSTALL F117-PW-100 ENGINES AS PART OF OCO+10 BUY	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 30, 2010	$179M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCIBILITY ENHANCEMENT/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PE/PI) III	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 30, 2010	$102M	$4.5M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	MIGRATED DATA VALUE UNKNOWN	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 22, 2010	$1.27B	$1.78B	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCIBILITY ENHANCEMENT/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PE/PI) III	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 29, 2009	$32.5M	$33.8M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	CCP-0619, ANNEX D, FOFTP	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 28, 2009	$60.7M	$63.3M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCIBILITY ENHANCEMENT/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PE/PI) III	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 22, 2009	$46.5M	$50.1M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCTION OF C-17 AIRCRAFT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	May 4, 2009	$321M	$421M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Pratt & Whitney	INDEFINITE DELIVERY INDEFINITE QUANTITY CONTRACT FOR F117-PW-100 ENGINES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 5, 2009	$136M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCTION OF C-17 AIRCRAFT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 6, 2009	$2.33B	$2.33B	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Pratt & Whitney	DELIVERY ORDER FOR +43 USAF INSTALL F117-PW-100 ENGINES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 8, 2008	$343M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCIBILITY ENHANCEMENT/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PE/PI) III	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 4, 2008	$23.0M	$1.0M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCIBILITY ENHANCEMENT/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PE/PI) III	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jul 1, 2008	$38.8M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCIBILITY ENHANCEMENT/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PE/PI) III - SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENTS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 19, 2008	$23.1M	$1.1M	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	PRODUCIBILITY ENHANCEMENT/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PE/PI) III	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 17, 2008	$29.7M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Pratt & Whitney	DELIVERY ORDER FOR +13 USAF SPARE F117-PW-100 ENGINES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	May 5, 2008	$113M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	CCP-0578, ANNEX E, SEPM	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 31, 2008	$29.6M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	200407!000095!5700!GU30 !ASC/YCK !F3365701D2000 !A!N! !N!0027 ! !20040430!20090831!781650619!781650619!009256819!N!MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CORPORATION !2401 E WARDLOW ROAD !LONG BEACH !CA!90807!43000!037!06!LONG BEACH !LOS ANGELES !CALIFORNIA!+000020139005!N!N!000000000000!AC15!RDTE/AIRCRAFT-ENG/MANUF DEVELOP !A1C!OTHER AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT !200 !C-17A !336411!E! !5!B!S! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !D!U!R!1!001!N!1G!A!Y!Z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !A!A!A!A!000!A!C!N! ! ! !Y! ! !0001! !	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jan 16, 2008	$30.5M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	CCP-0576, ANNEX D, FOFTP	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 28, 2007	$40.1M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	INCREASE PE/PI CEILING AMOUNT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 20, 2007	$61.9M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Pratt & Whitney	F117 INDEFINITE DELIVERY INDEFINITE QUANTITY CONTRACT WITH PRATT & WHITNEY	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Nov 16, 2007	$27.6M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	200606!000063!5700!FA8614!ASC/YCK !F3365701D2000 !A!N! !N!0030 ! !20060324!20091116!781650619!781650619!009256819!N!MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CORPORATION !2401 E WARDLOW ROAD !LONG BEACH !CA!90807!43000!037!06!LONG BEACH !LOS ANGELES !CALIFORNIA!+000002202343!N!N!000000000000!AC15!RDTE/AIRCRAFT-ENG/MANUF DEVELOP !A1C!OTHER AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT !200 !C-17A !336411!E! !5!B!S! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !D!U!R!1!001!N!1G!A!Y!Z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !A!A!A!A!000!A!C!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! !	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 31, 2007	$19.5M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	200405!000054!5700!GU30 !ASC/YCK !F3365701D2000 !A!N! !N!0024 ! !20040225!20070930!781650619!781650619!009256819!N!MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CORPORATION !2401 E WARDLOW ROAD !LONG BEACH !CA!90807!43000!037!06!LONG BEACH !LOS ANGELES !CALIFORNIA!+000007458736!N!N!000000000000!AC15!RDTE/AIRCRAFT-ENG/MANUF DEVELOP !A1C!OTHER AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT !200 !C-17A !336411!E! !5!B!S! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !D!U!R!1!001!N!1G!A!N!Z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !A!A!A!A!000!A!C!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! !	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 19, 2007	$21.4M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	ANNEX C	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 10, 2007	$21.9M	—	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	+10 USAF UCA	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 4, 2007	$636M	$1.62B	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported
Boeing	BILLING SCHEDULE FOR FY07 FLYING HOURS/ENGINE CYCLES ADJUSTMENT	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Oct 1, 2007	$5.97B	$10.96B	C-17 Globemaster III	Reported

Obligations are signed USAspending prime-contract actions coded to this program, FY2008 to date, credited to the company that received each action. Obligations are money committed, not company revenue.