The first C-17 heavy-lift aircraft built for the Indian Air Force touches down on a runway.
On a clear, cold day in June 2010, a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III flew over the mighty Himalayas and touched down at an airfield in Leh, at an elevation of 11,562 ft, to take part in rigorous field evaluation trials.
The C-17 is designed to fulfill India’s military and humanitarian airlift needs well into the 21st century.
A year later, India’s Ministry of Defence signed an agreement with the U.S. government on June 15, 2011, to acquire 10 C-17 airlifters, making India the largest C-17 customer outside the U.S. According to the agreement, India will take delivery of its C-17s in 2013 and 2014.
“This agreement is a reflection of the outstanding partnership India’s Ministry of Defence has with the U.S. Air Force, which worked very hard to help India strengthen its airlift capabilities with the C-17,” said Jean Chamberlin, vice president and general manager, Boeing Mobility.
With the Indian Air Force expanding its transport fleet, it made sense for India to acquire the C-17 Globemaster, the iconic strategic airlifter which has the ability to transport large payloads across vast ranges, land on short, austere runways, and operate in extremely hot and cold climates.
Ambassador N. Parthasarathi, Consul General of India, San Francisco, and Air Commodore Sanjay Nimesh, air attaché at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. drive rivets into the first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft being built at the Boeing facility in Long Beach, Calif.
The C-17 is designed to fulfill India’s military and humanitarian airlift needs well into the 21st century. A high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed aircraft with a rear loading ramp, the C-17 has been used extensively around the world to carry large payload delivery into austere and semi-prepared airfields, airdrop equipment in hot and high altitude, has paratroop capabilities, and brigade airdrops, support disaster and humanitarian relief missions, undertake aero medical evacuations, and transport troops and heavy equipment.
Continuously upgraded to meet changing world situations, today’s C-17 incorporates significant improvements since its original rollout – from the addition of an extended range fuel tank and upgraded software, to improvements to the Aerial Delivery System and communications architecture.
With a maximum payload of 164,900 pounds, the C-17 can take off from a 7,000 foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles un-fuelled, land on small, austere airfields of 3,000 feet or less and just 90 feet wide. The aircraft is capable of performing tactical airlift, medical evacuation and airdrop missiles.
With the Indian Air Force expanding its transport fleet, it made sense for India to acquire the C-17 Globemaster, the iconic strategic airlifter which has the ability to transport large payloads across vast ranges, land on short, austere runways, and operate in extremely hot and cold climates.
Continuously upgraded to meet changing world situations, today’s C-17 incorporates significant improvements since its original rollout – from the addition of an extended range fuel tank and upgraded software, to improvements to the Aerial Delivery System and communications architecture.
Boeing will support India’s C-17 fleet through the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership, a proven multinational Performance-Based Logistics program. The GSP “virtual fleet” arrangement ensures mission readiness by providing all C-17 customers — with varied fleet sizes — access to an extensive support network for worldwide parts availability and economies of scale when purchasing materials.
In July 2012, Boeing integrated the forward, center and aft fuselages and the wing assembly of India’s first C-17 Globemaster III during the airlifter’s “major join” ceremony in Long Beach, California. Embassy, senior Indian Air Force and local elected officials drove ceremonial rivets into the aircraft as they celebrated the achievement of this key program milestone.
“The defense relationship between India and the United States is an important dimension of our strategic partnership,” said Ambassador N. Parthasarathi, Consul General of India, San Francisco. “This momentous occasion, where we see India’s first C-17 take shape, further strengthens our growing relationship. As India strives to become a global reservoir of highly skilled and technologically sophisticated manpower, we will witness an escalating technology transfer, collaborative joint research and development, and co-production of defense items between our two countries.”
C17 Globemaster
While addressing officials and employees at the major join ceremony, Bob Ciesla, Boeing Airlift vice president and C-17 program manager, said “This is a proud day for the highly skilled Boeing workforce and our newest customer to celebrate a major production milestone. We are preparing for India’s first C-17 to enter flight test on schedule early next year, and we look forward to providing for India’s current and future needs and continuing to support C-17s long after they are delivered.”
Boeing has delivered 248 C-17s worldwide, including 218 to the U.S. Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserve units. A total of 30 C-17s have been delivered to Australia, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.
Please wait...
