Boeing Delivers The 11th C-17 Globemaster III To Indian Air Force

Boeing delivered the 11th C-17 Globemaster III adding to India’s capability to meet current and future strategic airlift requirements. The aircraft is capable of carrying a payload of 40-70 tons up to a distance of 4200-9000 km in a single hop. 

Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster III is a premier transporter for military, humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. The massive, sturdy, long-haul aircraft can carry large combat equipment, troops and humanitarian aid across long distances, directly to austere airfields anywhere in the world, in all weather conditions. C-17 is powered by four Pratt & Whitney PW2040 (military designation F117-PW-100) that generates 40,440 pounds thrust each. 

The C-17 fleet has been a vital part of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) strategic and combat airlift capability. 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, including aid to earthquake hit Nepal, since the induction to the Sky Lords squadron in 2013. 

In 2011, Boeing agreed terms for the order of 10 C-17s with Indian Air Force which was valued at US$4.7 billion order with an option clause to purchase six additional C-17s over its order of ten.

Boeing has been maintaining IAF’s C-17 fleet through techno-logistics support and training for aircrew that operate the platform. Boeing is responsible for maintenance, field support services, modifications and upgrades, technical manual support and logistics engineering services. Boeing has also established C-17 Simulator Training Center in 2016 for the training services to the IAF, and, so far, completed over 5100 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.