IAF finalises order for 10 C-17 strategic airlifters

New Delhi, Mar 17 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to place orders for 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlifters within this month in a deal valued at $4.1 billion.

Discussions between the IAF and the US Air Force (USAF), as well as the Indian ministry of defence and the US Department of Defence concluded here Feb 15, with Boeing accepting the detailed terms for 30 percent mandatory offsets clause.


The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is the final authority for major defence and other acquisitions, is likely to approve the deal at its next meeting as funds for the purchase of the C-17s have been approved for the fiscal 2010-11.


Vivek Lall, Boeing’s outgoing vice president in India for defence, space and security, confirmed the agreement on offsets but declined to give any financial details.


Sources in Washington, however, told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) that the deal is for $4.1 billion, as indicated by the US administration on the eve of President Barack Obama’s visit to India last November.


The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, had told India Strategic that it would be going in for an additional six C-17s.


There could however be further orders as IAF’s fleet of Soviet vintage heavy strategic lift IL-76 aircraft is already 26 years old. These aircraft are being modernized and would serve the IAF for about 10-15 more years.


By that time, the new generation C-17s would operationally be well-assimilated in the IAF.


India has about 20 IL-76 aircraft and the IAF may eventually go in for about 25 C-17s.