IAF finalises order for 10 C 17 strategic airlifters

	New Delhi. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to place orders for 10 Boeing C 17 Globemaster-III strategic airlifters within this month.
	Discussions between the Indian Air Force and the US Air Force (USAF), as well as the Indian Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence concluded here March 15, with Boeing accepting the detailed terms for 30 per cent mandatory offsets. 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 the funds for the purchase of C 17s have been approved for the current financial year.

Dr 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 that the deal is for US $ 4.1 billion, as indicated by the US Administration on the eve of President Barack Obama’s visit to India in November last.
It may be noted that IAF’s Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, told India Strategic that IAF would be going in for six more 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 under modernization and would serve the IAF for about 10-15 more years.
By that time, the new generation C 17s would be well assimilated operationally in the IAF.
India has about 20 IL 76 aircraft, and IAF may eventually go in for a total of about 25 C 17s.

(India Strategic)