The United States Government welcomed the media reports of the sale of ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The acquisition will significantly boost the Indian Air Force’s heavy transport capabilities.
U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer stated: “This sale captures the mutual benefits of the U.S. – India global partnership. For India, the sale adds strategic and humanitarian muscle to its defense needs. The sale grows and sustains 23,000 thousand jobs in America.
For both countries, the sale will further strengthen the strategic ties between the U.S. and Indian armed forces, leading to enhanced cooperation for a safer and more secure region and world.”
“The C-17 Globemaster will broaden India’s capability to provide humanitarian assistance to people devastated by natural disasters; to deploy peacekeeping troops around the world to secure peace in dangerous areas; and to evacuate its citizens and others from areas of civil strife anywhere in the world. This is indicative of the growing military and humanitarian ties between our two democracies. From joint training exercises to defense sales and ship visits, the United States is committed to sharing expertise and cutting-edge technology with India, and to do so in a way that has economic benefits for both India and the United States. India is a leader in maintaining regional stability in South Asia, and a partner in promoting peace and economic growth.”
While the aircraft constitute the centerpiece of this landmark acquisition, the total procurement is much more comprehensive. In addition to ten C-17s, the IAF will acquire state-of-the-art aircrew and maintenance training, support and maintenance infrastructure, a wide array of spares and repair parts, technical assistance and unique aircraft modifications specific to the IAF.
This comprehensive purchase will support an estimated 23,000 jobs in the United States. Over 600 suppliers located in 44 states in America will benefit from the sale.
The C-17 is the workhorse of the U.S. Air Force transport fleet and has proven highly reliable in the harsh environments of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Indian Air Force will use the C-17s to modernize India’s armed forces with new cargo capabilities. With a payload of 164,900 pounds, the C-17 can take off from a 7,000-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles, and land on a small, austere airfield in 3,000 feet or less.
In addition to the U.S. Air Force, the C-17 is currently in service with the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Canadian Forces, NATO, Qatar, and the UAE.
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