Boeing Wins $37 Million Air Force C-17 Bench-Lab Retrofit Contract

Boeing has received a $36.8 million U.S. Air Force contract to retrofit the C-17 Globemaster III Simulation Testing Facility and Integration Testing Facility bench labs. The Phase I award covers implementation of previously developed solutions at Boeing facilities in Long Beach, California, and Mesa, Arizona. Work is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2030.

C-17 Bench-Lab Retrofit Details

Boeing will implement the previously developed retrofit solutions in the Simulation Testing Facility and Integration Testing Facility bench labs. The award is for putting those solutions in place rather than developing them under this contract. The public award notice does not describe the individual modifications.

The two facilities support different parts of the C-17 testing environment: simulation and integration labs provide places to evaluate aircraft systems and changes before they are fielded. The award covers both sets of bench labs, with work performed in Long Beach and Mesa.

C-17 Program Background

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center says the service operates 222 C-17s at 17 locations and is pursuing both modernization and sustainment of the fleet. The aircraft serves as a strategic airlifter and also performs tactical airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation missions, according to an Air Mobility Command fact sheet. Lab work provides a testing environment as the Air Force continues to maintain and update the aircraft.

Award and Contractor Background

The Air Force made the bench-lab award to Boeing on a sole-source basis. It combines firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee work and is being managed by the C-17 Contracting Branch at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

In December 2025, the Air Force awarded Boeing a separate sole-source contract worth about $266.6 million for C-17A flight-deck replacement design, manufacture, integration, qualification and certification, with completion expected in 2031. That effort includes updates to affected labs, making it relevant context for the new bench-lab award, though the available award information does not establish a contractual relationship between the two efforts.

This award was disclosed by the DoW in its daily press release. Additional contract details will be available on HigherGov in approximately 90 days under FA852626FB024 after the contract is formally disclosed by the government.