Defence Minister AK Antony will formally induct Boeing manufactured C-17 transport plane Globemaster into the IAF on Monday at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad.
The IAF has already inducted two C-17s in the last three months and the rest six will join service over a span of one year. The IAF has created a new squadron 81 Skylord for these giant heavy-lift planes capable of airlifting 80 tonnes of equipment besides 150 to 200 fully armed troops.
India is procuring these planes through foreign military sale (FMS) route from the US wherein the US Government stands guarantee for the contract worth over Rs 20,000 crore. IAF has already inducted six C-130J medium lift transport planes and plans to procure six more through FMS from the US.