United States
Australia
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Canada
The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $540 million sale to Canada for sustaining its fleet of C-17 strategic airlifters, a package that covers a wide range of support services and equipment. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the potential deal under Transmittal 26-44.
Canada’s request includes major and minor modifications; aircraft maintenance support equipment; ground handling equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories; repair-and-return services; classified and unclassified software and delivery support; publications and technical documentation; and U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics assistance.
U.S. officials said the proposed sale would advance American foreign policy and national security objectives by bolstering the capabilities of a key NATO ally that contributes to military, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions worldwide.
The package is intended to ensure the Royal Canadian Air Force’s C-17 fleet remains operationally ready. Canada’s strategic airlift aircraft regularly support U.S. and coalition operations, as well as rapid response to crises and disaster relief.
The principal contractor is The Boeing Company, based in Arlington, Virginia.
The notification does not involve new aircraft. Instead, it would fund sustainment and upgrades for the existing fleet, a critical need given that C-17 production ended in 2015 and long-term readiness depends on a global support enterprise managed by Boeing in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and allied operators.
As with all Foreign Military Sales, the State Department’s approval triggers a congressional review. For NATO allies such as Canada, Congress typically has 15 days to weigh in. The final value and scope could change during negotiations and contracting.
Canada already flies the C-17—known locally as the CC-177 Globemaster III—and is expected to integrate the additional services and equipment without difficulty, according to the notification.
