In a significant boost to the IAF’s strategic airlift capabilities, Boeing, the manufacturer of C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, delivered the 11th plane to the IAF on Monday. This came about after the Government last year approved procurement of three additional C-17s at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore.
At present, the IAF has ten planes with the induction beginning in 2013. The deal inked in 2011 was worth 4.7 billion dollars. The contract had an option clause of buying six more planes but shortage of funds delayed the induction of more planes.
The C-17 fleet is a vital fleet of the IAF’s combat airlift capability as the plane can land in toughest of places thereby ensuring logistic support to the troops deployed in remote areas guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) facing China and Line of Control(LoC)with Pakistan. The planes have in the past few years have also carried out humanitarian assistance during natural calamities.
The C-17 is a premier transport aircraft as it is massive and long-haul aircraft carrying large combat equipment, troops and humanitarian aid across long distances in all weather conditions.
“Boeing today delivered the 11th C-17 Globemaster III adding to India’s capability to meet current and future strategic airlift requirements,” the company said in a statement.
The IAF C-17s have performed a wide range of operations in military missions, and provided peacekeeping support, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in India and internationally, since induction to the Sky Lords squadron based at Hindon airbase near the national capital in 2013.
In 2016, C-17 Globemaster made a historic landing on a short 4,200-foot runway of the high altitude Mechuka Advanced Air Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh, just 29 km from the LAC, a move that demonstrated IAF’s the ability to reach the remotest parts of the country.
Boeing has been maintaining IAF’s C-17 fleet through techno-logistics support and training for aircrew that operate the platform. “The C-17 fleet has maintained high serviceability rates since its induction. Boeing is responsible for maintenance, field support services, modifications and upgrades, technical manual support and logistics engineering services,” the company said.
Boeing’s C-17 simulator training centre, established in 2016, provides training services to the IAF, and has completed over 5,100 hours of training for aircrew and loadmasters. “With this delivery, there are 275 operable Boeing-built C-17s around the globe. Boeing plans to sustain them to ensure they meet the mission at hand,” the company said.