Summary: The C-17 will be the most computerized, software-intensive transport aircraft ever built, relying on 19 different embedded computers incorporating more than 80 microprocessors and about 1.3 million lines of code. The Air Force continues to allow its prime contractor, McDonnell Douglas Corporation, to defer software development to future aircraft. Unable to develop and deliver software on time, McDonnell Douglas has postponed software development rather than slow aircraft production. Each of these deferrals has further delayed the software testing necessary to demonstrate that the C-17 is up to standards. The Air Force is experiencing embedded computer and software development problems with the C-17 in three main areas. First, some critical software functions are either still being developed or are incompletely tested. Second, McDonnell Douglas continues to have difficulty meeting reserve processing and memory capacity requirements. Lastly, McDonnell Douglas still has not developed adequate system documentation, thereby jeopardizing the Air Force's ability to efficiently test, maintain, and upgrade C-17 computer systems.
