On July 25, 2007, the first of four Boeing C-17A Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft for the Canadian Defense Forces took flight for the first time Monday. Flown by Boeing crew, the aircraft lifted off from Long Beach, California, at 3:36 p.m. Pacific time, and flew for three hours and 45 minutes. The aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to Canada on August 8, 2007.

The direct commercial purchase contract for four aircraft was signed on February 2, 2007, making Canada the fourth nation to operate the C-17. The Canadian C-17s will be based at Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ontario. The last aircraft will be delivered in 2009.

The Royal Australian Air Force recently took delivery of its second C-17A Globemaster in May 2007. The Royal Air Force has ordered a fifth aircraft which is in production now. The RAF plans to buy the current four C-17s when their lease expires in 2008. Finally, NATO allies agreed on setting up a new NATO agency to acquire and operate three to four C-17s under the NATO Strategic Airlift Capability initiative. Meanwhile deliveries to the US Air Force are continuing, which ordered a total of 190 aircraft, of which more than 160 aircraft are in operation now. Without more orders from the US government, Boeing announced that the production line will close in 2009.