The first of the ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifters, ordered from the United States, arrived in India, at Hindan airb...
The first of the ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifters, ordered from the United States, arrived in India, at Hindan airbase, New Delhi today. With the training of the aircrew and the ground crew being conducted by the United States Air Force.
The aircraft was received by Air Marshal S Sukumar, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at the Hindan airbase, where it would be based.
The aircraft will enhance the operational potential of the IAF with its payload carriage and performance capability and would augment the strategic reach during disaster relief or any similar mission. The induction of C-17 is a major milestone in the modernization drive of the IAF.
Boeing is on track to deliver four more C-17s to the IAF this year and five in 2014. This first aircraft was transferred on June 11 after completion of a flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, California, that began following the Jan. 22 delivery.
The IAF C-17 fleet will play a crucial role in any force projection along the 4057-km long frontier with China.
The C-17's ability to fly long distances and land in remote airfields in rough, land-locked regions make it a premier transporter for military, humanitarian and peace keeping missions.
It can take off from a 7,600-ft. airfield, carry a payload of 160,000 pounds, fly 2,400 nautical miles, refuel while in flight and land in 3,000 ft. or less on a small unpaved or paved airfield in day or night.
India is expected to place a repeat order for 6 more C-17s after evaluating its operational performance.
