BANGALORE, June 12: In a fillip to the Indian Air Force (IAF), US aircraft giant Boeing has flown the first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft to India yesterday.
“The C-17 will equip the Indian Air Force with amongst the world’s most advanced humanitarian and strategic capabilities. IAF had looked forward to this day when our Indian Air Force flies the first C-17 to its new home in India,’ Air Vice-Marshal S R K Nair, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Transport and Helicopters), said.
During February 2011, the IAF ordered for 10 C-17s with an option for six more. Deliveries will be completed in 2015.
Boeing is on track to deliver four more C-17s to the IAF this year and five in 2014. This first aircraft was transferred today after completion of a flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, California, that began following the January 22 delivery, a Boeing release said.
“Congratulations to the Indian Air Force on this milestone as India joins the worldwide community of C-17 operators,” said Tommy Dunehew, Boeing Vice-President of Business Development for Mobility, Surveillance and Engagement.
“Nations turn to the C-17 for the capability to perform a wide range of operations, from peacekeeping and disaster relief to troop movements from semi-prepared airfields. This aircraft will provide the Indian Air Force with the versatility to augment airlift capability,” he said.
Boeing has now delivered 254 C-17s, including 222 to the U S Air Force and a total of 32 C-17s to Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.
Boeing will support the IAF C-17 fleet through the Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP) Performance-Based Logistics contract. The GISP ‘virtual fleet’ arrangement ensures mission readiness by providing all C-17 customers access to an extensive support network for worldwide parts availability and economies of scale.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a USD 33 billion business with 59,000 employees worldwide.
(UNI)
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