Boeing has begun installing SpaceX’s Starshield satellite communications system on U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft, expanding the military network that is also being tested by New Zealand’s Defence Force.
According to the U.S. Air Force, Boeing is carrying out the work at Port San Antonio, Texas, under two contracts worth a combined US$13.5 million (C$18.9 million). (via San Antonio Express-News)
The contracts cover installing Starshield equipment on an initial 19 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft by March 2027. Nine installations have already been completed, with the Air Force expecting additional contracts to eventually equip all 222 aircraft in its fleet.
Starshield is the government and defence version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service. On the C-17, it provides a beyond-line-of-sight connection, allowing aircraft to remain connected and share mission information while in flight.
The aircraft are also receiving Airlift/Tanker Open Mission Systems (ATOMS), a communications suite that uses the Starshield connection to improve situational awareness and communication with other military forces.
According to the Air Force, Sierra Nevada Corporation supplies the Starshield and ATOMS equipment and installation kits, while Boeing handles the integration under its existing US$9.5 billion (C$13.3 billion) C-17 maintenance contract.
“These efforts are part of Boeing’s broader commitment to supporting the C-17 fleet and ensuring it continues to meet the evolving needs of the warfighter,” a Boeing spokesperson said.
ATOMS has already been installed on several military aircraft types, including the KC-135, KC-46 and C-130. The Air Force also demonstrated the system aboard a C-17 in April 2024.
The project is part of at least US$6 billion (C$8.4 billion) in broader Pentagon spending on Starshield, most of which comes through U.S. Space Force contracts.
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