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  • India Requests Boeing C-17s

    India Requests Boeing C-17s


    Jan 8, 2010


    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.

    The high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed aircraft with a rear-loading ramp, can carry large combat equipment and troops or humanitarian aid across vast distances directly, is said to be the perfect fit for India’s remote airfields.

    The Globemaster was on display and participated in daily aerial demonstrations during the Bangalore Air Show in February 2009.

    With payload capacity of 160,000 pounds, the C-17 can take off from a 7,600-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles, and land on a small, austere airfield in 3,000 feet or less. The C-17 is equipped with an externally blown flap system that allows a steep, low-speed final approach and low-landing speeds for routine short-field landings, according to the Boeing Web site.

    The U.S.-India defense partnership is moving speedily with New Delhi selecting Boeing last year to provide eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy. India is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I within 48 months, and the remaining seven by 2015.

    In late October 2009, Boeing submitted two proposals to the Indian Air Force for 22 AH-64D Apache 22 attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters.

    “The Apache and Chinook helicopters are the most capable and cost-effective rotorcraft to meet India’s defense and transport requirements,” Lall said, “The Apache will be a capable and lethal defender of India’s troops and assets, while the Chinook will answer many of the country’s military and humanitarian needs,” Lall said in a statement.

    If selected, Boeing will build the Apache helicopters at its rotorcraft facility in Mesa, Ariz., and the Chinook helicopters at its rotorcraft center near Philadelphia. Suggested production rates and delivery schedules have not been announced.

    Photo: Boeing




    Glad to see the C-17 isn't willing to die just yet.
    what ever happens......happens

  • #2
    Why should the C-17 die just yet? Who knows? If Airbus really cancels the A400M, orders for the Globemaster III might be come pouring in from all over the planet

    Comment


    • #3
      It's difficult to say how close the C-17 program comes to ending, because Boeing are announcing its end every other week in-between orders.

      The RAF just ordered its eighth aircraft, so who knows.


      Foundation Course in Aviation Engineering on-going; Stage One of the journey to professional engineer!

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      • #4
        Originally posted by APS View Post
        It's difficult to say how close the C-17 program comes to ending, because Boeing are announcing its end every other week in-between orders.

        The RAF just ordered its eighth aircraft, so who knows.
        You've just answered your own question you posed in the other A400 thread. This C17 is being bought no doubt in part to ensure you guys have more fresh airframes to spread the workload over so as not to have a situation where fatigure life becomes too much of a critical concern for the existing fleet whilst waiting for the delayed A400.

        This type of action is not without precedent - another aviation program is years behind (actually, it seems to be rare that a new aircraft is delivered to schedule these days) the F-35. Australia found that it was being squeezed too tightly in terms of a capability gap with retiring its F111's early and fatigue life issues with its classic hornet fleet. The RAAF were either to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on centre barrel replacements on the F/A-18A's or do as they did and spend $6 billion on ordering 24 Super Hornets as an interim capability. If the F-35 were adhering to its original delivery schedule, these aircraft would not have been required.

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        • #5
          I am travelling this air-craft and i was wondering if anyone had any pictures of the plane [INSIDE] and any reviews e.g. about service or toilets. Also if there would be any reccomandations as to where to sit!
          Thanks! x Not really a question but i'd like 2 know thanks.

          Beta Alanine Pro

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by scottstyris View Post
            I am travelling this air-craft and i was wondering if anyone had any pictures of the plane [INSIDE] and any reviews e.g. about service or toilets. Also if there would be any reccomandations as to where to sit!
            Thanks! x Not really a question but i'd like 2 know thanks.

            Which airline would you be flying?

            Comment


            • #7
              They better make it so they can't carry nukes!
              Bujuraj Vataranjan-O'Malley

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by SYDCBRWOD View Post
                Which airline would you be flying?
                Yeah, thought so. SPAM.

                Mods - seems to be a popular way to promote some dodgy scheme - sign up for as many fora as you can, post a fairly banal question on a forum (and will probably be tripped up as any aviation enthusiast would know the C-17 is a cargo airplane with so far 1 delivered in Qatar colours - still an airforce asset though), then just happen to slip the crap you are peddalling in as a link on the signature block...

                There have been a few now...

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