India Requests Boeing C-17s

India’s Defense Ministry has sent a letter of request to the U.S. government for 10 Boeing C-17 strategic airlifters, via the foreign military sales (FMS) process.
Boeing’s statement this morning follows immediately after a United Arab Emirates announcement for the purchase of six C-17 Globemaster IIIs.
The U.S has been in discussions with the Indian government and Boeing recently completed a series of C-17 demonstration flights in India. In November 2009, in a joint-lift exercise, the U.S. Air Force flew the C-17 in Agra. Aviation Week reported Boeing’s desire to offer India the C-17, which can carry large equipment, supplies and troops directly to small airfields. “The C-17 fits in well with India’s operational requirements,” said Vivek Lall, vice president and India country head for Boeing Defense Space and Security (formerly called Integrated Defense Systems). “The U.S. government received a request for information in 2008,” he added at the time.
A senior Indian air force official recently said the Globemaster aircraft had been chosen after a thorough study because of its range, ease of operation and capability to take off and land on short runways with heavy loads.
India’s present transport fleet has 40 Russian-made IL-76 and over 100 Soviet-built AN-32 cargo aircraft. Six Lockheed Martin C-130Js are on order to be delivered in 2011. The AN-32s are currently undergoing mid-life refurbishment under a joint project with Russia’s Irkut.
08/01/10 Neelam Mathews/Aviation Week

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Categories: Foreign Jan 2010, New Jan 2010