C-17 Globemaster III (IAF)

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C-17 Globemaster III

An Unequalled Tactical Edge

By Vivek Lall Published :February 2010



Washington. In January, when the U.S. government received a Letter of Request from India’s Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force regarding the potential acquisition of 10 C-17 Globemaster III airlifters, India joined a growing number of countries seriously considering the advanced airlifter as the solution to their requirements.



We believe the C-17 can fulfill India’s needs for military and humanitarian airlift to help it meet its growing domestic and international responsibilities, and continue to see strong interest in C-17s across the global market.

When 2009 came to a close, a record 14 nations had selected Boeing’s C-17, the workhorse of the U.S. Air Force since 1993, as their airlifter of choice. The newest members of the C-17 family include the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence, the Qatar Emiri Air Force, and the 12-nation Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) initiative led by NATO.

The SAC group includes 10 NATO nations – Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, United States – and Partnership for Peace members Sweden and Finland. The 12 countries share acquisition and operating costs for a fleet of three C-17s over a nearly 30-year agreement. SAC’s approach to shared use of the strategic airlifter is now regarded as a model for the pooled acquisition and management of defense capabilities.

Other long-time international customers include Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, which ordered a seventh C-17 in December.

“Nations looking to modernize their airlift capabilities turn to the C-17 because of the industryleading quality and reliability that all C-17 customers enjoy, coupled with exceptional performance and durability,” points out Tommy Dunehew, Boeing vice president, Business Development, Global Mobility Systems. “It provides worldclass and worldwide strategic airlift capability and the means to rapidly, reliably and flexibly move heavy equipment over vast distances.”

Both a tactical and strategic airlifter, only the C-17 can carry large combat equipment and troops or humanitarian aid over long distances and deliver them directly to small, austere airfields anywhere in the world. It can land combat-ready troops on semi-prepared runways or airdrop them directly into the fight. Its ability to back up allows it to operate on narrow taxiways and on congested ramps.

The C-17 is the only platform available that can support a large military or humanitarian operation on unimproved landing strips in a timely manner.

The C-5 Galaxy is unable to operate on makeshift runways; the C-130, a four-engine turboprop, can’t meet crucial time constraints; and the A400M lacks short-field takeoff capability.

Equipped with an externally blown flap system that allows a steep, final approach and low-speed landings for routine short-field landings, the C-17 can take off and land on runways as short as 3,500 feet and only 90 feet wide and can take off from a 7,600-foot airfield with a full cargo load. Even on such narrow runways, the C-17 can turn around using a three-point star turn and its backing capability.

The C-17 is the only tactical aircraft capable of performing all airlift missions, including strategic, tactical, military, and humanitarian missions, as well as brigade airdrops, aeromedical evacuations, and landings and takeoffs from standard runways or austere airfields.

Reliability and maintainability are two key benefits of the C-17 system, known for an aircraft mission completion success probability rate of 95 percent.

Maximum payload capacity of the C-17 is 170,900 pounds, and its maximum gross takeoff weight is 585,000 pounds. With its full payload and an initial cruise altitude of 28,000 feet, the C-17 has an unrefueled range of approximately 2,400 nautical miles.

The C-17 is also designed to airdrop 102 paratroopers and equipment.

A key feature of the C-17 is that it’s operated by a crew of three – pilot, co-pilot and loadmaster – reducing personnel requirements, risk exposure and long-term operating costs. Cargo is loaded onto the C-17 through a large aft door that accommodates military vehicles and palletized cargo. The C-17 can carry Army wheeled vehicles in two side-by-side rows in its cargo compartment.

Significant modifications have been made since the C-17 was first rolled out, from an extended range fuel tank and upgraded software to improvements to the Aerial Delivery System and communications architecture.

Defensive Systems, an Electronic Flight Control System and a Formation Flight System have also been added. The support infrastructure for the C-17 is in operation worldwide, and participation in the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership provides for significant cost savings.

Today, the C-17 supports U.S. troops as they fight terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq and respond to humanitarian disasters around the world. In January, C-17s from the United States, Qatar, Canada and SAC supported relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. In October 2009, C-17s with the Hawaii Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force completed a 10-day mission during which they ferried humanitarian aid to victims of the tsunami and earthquake that struck American Samoa on Sept. 29.

That same month, C-17s completed multiple humanitarian airlift missions to Padang, Indonesia, where nearly 800 people had been killed in another earthquake.

The C-17 is often the first to respond to international humanitarian disasters, delivering, in one mission, critical supplies, personnel, and a 100-bed, fully equipped field hospital with patient litters, oxygen, and support equipment.

The C-17 is an acquisition success story, with deliveries on or ahead of schedule for the past decade. And it is available right now, without any development risk, whether a country wants 10 or 20, or more.

The author is Vice president and India country head, Boeing Defense, Space & Security.



© India Strategic

http://indiastrategic.in/topstories489.htm
 

Sridhar

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Boeing Cuts C-17 Output by 33%, Awaits Foreign Orders (Update1)

February 23, 2010, 04:36 PM EST


By Susanna Ray
Feb. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Boeing Co., the second-largest defense contractor, is scaling back production of the C-17 military cargo plane by a third so it can extend the life of the assembly line while waiting for international orders.
Workers at the Long Beach, California, plant were warned in December and officially notified this month that jobs will be cut as part of the plan to reduce annual production, spokesman Jerry Drelling said today in a telephone interview. Boeing is still analyzing the impact on employment and profit, he said.
The plant has been in jeopardy as orders from the Pentagon dried up, and Boeing has said it would shut the factory in 2011 without more purchases. The aircraft’s backlog now stands at 36. Delays to the A400M, a competing transport plane built by European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co., could help boost overseas interest in the C-17, Dennis Muilenburg, president of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said last month.
“By reducing the production rate, this helps extend the line to continue to secure additional international orders,” Drelling said today. There’s interest from India and other Asian and Middle Eastern countries, he said. Boeing can’t negotiate with foreign militaries without U.S. approval.
The rate reduction has already begun and will be finished by mid-2011, Drelling said. Boeing has been delivering about 15 C-17s a year since 2001, and cutting the annual rate to 10 will extend the line through September 2012, Drelling said. There are about 5,000 workers at the plant now, and the aircraft’s supplier network supports 25,000 jobs in 44 states, he said.

Effect on Profit

The lower delivery rate in 2011 will reduce Macquarie Capital’s profit estimate by 12 cents to $4.05 a share, according to analyst Rob Stallard, who wrote today that he had expected production to be stable through 2011 before ending in 2012.
“However, we may have to add to our 2012 EPS estimate if Boeing is successful in dragging out the end of this program with exports,” Stallard wrote.
Boeing fell $1.20, or 1.9 percent, to $62.77 at 4:15 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have increased 16 percent this year.
The C-17’s backlog includes 19 planes intended for the U.S. Air Force and an expected order for an additional 10, after the U.S. Defense Department included money for the purchase in the 2010 defense bill, Boeing said. It also includes six planes for the United Arab Emirates and one for the U.K.
Boeing has also delivered C-17s to Qatar, Australia and Canada. The plane, used to transport troops and equipment, has an intercontinental range and can land on short and sandy runways.
Aviation Week first reported Boeing’s production cut earlier today.


http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...put-by-33-awaits-foreign-orders-update1-.html
 

RPK

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http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=59338

Acquisition of c-17 Globe Master – III Aircraft

Government proposes to get 10 C-17 Globe master – III giant strategic aircraft from US and sent a letter of request to the US Government. The proposal to procure C-17 Globemaster II aircraft from the US Government to meet the strategic airlift requirement of Indian Air Force was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council on October 19, 2009. The Letter of Request was issued to the United States Government on January 01, 2010.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri A Elavarasan in Rajya Sabha today.
 
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http://www.monstersandcritics.com/n...-acquire-10-US-made-military-transport-planes

India to acquire 10 US-made military transport planes


New Delhi - India has asked the US government
for approval to buy 10 military transport planes, Defence Minister AK Antony said in a parliament Wednesday.

The C-17 Globemaster-III air lifter, manufactured by Boeing, is used to transport combat equipment and troops or to deliver humanitarian assistance.

The Indian Air Force currently operates a fleet of Russian-made Ilyushin-76 and Antanov-32 transport planes. It plans to upgrade and replace ageing aircraft over the next few years.

Antony also said a contract worth over 964 million dollars had been signed with Russian MiG Corporation to upgrade the air force's MiG-29 fighter jets.

Another contract for upgrading AN-32 aircraft had been signed with Ukrainian company Spets Techno Export, he added.

Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/n...-made-military-transport-planes#ixzz0hnH5Im1o
 

nitesh

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It's confirmed now:

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4533299&c=ASI&s=AIR

NEW DELHI - It is official now that India will buy American-made C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft on a government-to-government basis. The Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony told the Indian parliament on March 10 that a letter of request has been issued to Washington.

"The proposal to procure C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the U.S. government to meet the strategic airlift requirement of the Indian Air Force was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council on Oct. 19, 2009," he said. "The letter of request was issued to the United States government on Jan. 1."

The $1.7 billion C-17 deal, likely to be finalized this year, would be the second largest deal for Boeing in India. Early last year, New Delhi signed a $2.1 billion agreement to buy eight P-8 maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing.

Boeing said in a statement Jan. 8 that the U.S. government had received from India a letter of request about a potential purchase of 10 C-17 military transport aircraft, Defense News reported.


Currently, the Indian military has to rely mainly on Russian-made An-32s, which form the bulk of its transport fleet, for lifting of troops and other logistic assignments. The Indian Air Force also has Russian-made Il-76 transport aircraft. The service has ordered six U.S. C-130J Hercules aircraft, and more acquisitions are planned in the near future.

In mid-2009, India signed a $400 million contract with Ukrainian military export agency Ukrspetsexport to upgrade 100 Soviet-built cargo An-32 cargo aircraft.

Of 118 An-32 transport aircraft acquired in the early 1980s, only 100 remain. The others were lost in accidents.

The Indian military needs to augment its capacity for quickly airlifting troops to strengthen its force on the Pakistani border, to fight terrorism and low-intensity warfare, and to face the perception of a growing threat at the Sino-Indian border, a senior Indian Defence Ministry official said.
 
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...sport-planes-to-India/articleshow/5861715.cms

US hopes to sell 10 military transport planes to India


WASHINGTON: The United States said on Monday it hopes to begin negotiations soon on the sale of ten C-17 military transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force
in a multi-billion dollar deal signifying deeper ties.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress last Thursday of "the possible sale of ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to the Indian Air Force," the US Embassy in New Delhi said on its website.

The notification "is a necessary prerequisite to negotiations on the deal," which could fetch up to 5.8 billion dollars, the embassy statement said. "The actual cost will be based on Indian Air Force requirements and has yet to be negotiated," it added.

Timothy Roemer, the US ambassador to India, played up the eventual sale of the C-17 planes that the statement said would help India's armed forces increase and modernize their ability to move cargo.

"The potential sale of C-17s strengthens the growing partnership between our two countries, and demonstrates our enduring commitment to sharing the world's best technology with India," he said in the embassy statement.

"This sale will offer economic benefits for both India and the United States and will likely include significant job creation in both countries," he added.

"India is a leading partner in our efforts to promote regional stability, peace and economic growth."

The C-17, which transports both troops and heavy equipment, has proven "highly reliable in the harsh environments" of Iraq and Afghanistan, the statement said.

"With a payload of 164,900 pounds, the C-17 can take off from a 7,000-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles, and land on a small, austere airfield in 3,000 feet or less," the statement said.

The US Air Force, the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, Canadian Forces, NATO and Qatar all use the C-17s. The United Arab Emirates has also ordered C-17s.

In addition to buying the C-17s, the Indian Air Force could also decide on a deal in which US personnel train the air crew and maintenance personnel as well as provide training equipment, spare and repair parts.

Under a deal, the Indians could also agree to buy test equipment, ground support equipment and technical assistance. The Indians could also negotiate engineering services and logistical and technical support.
 
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http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...&headline=Indian C-17 Deal with U.S. Advances

Indian C-17 Deal with U.S. Advances


Moving a step toward a U.S. foreign military sale, a prerequisite to negotiations, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency formally notified Congress on April 22 of the possible foreign military sale (FMS) of 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

India's Defense Ministry had sent a letter of request to the U.S. government for the C-17s via the FMS process (Aerospace DAILY, Jan 11). Boeing's Jan. 8 statement followed immediately after an United Arab Emirates announcement of plans to purchase six C-17s.

While the official notification to Congress lists the potential value for the deal as $5.8 billion, the actual cost will be based on Indian Air Force requirements. The amount represents the highest possible estimate for the sale to include all potential services offered.

While the final figure has yet to be negotiated, the Indian sale may also include training for air crew and maintenance personnel and training equipment, spares, test and ground-support equipment, technical assistance, engineering services, specific modifications and logistical and technical support.

In November 2009, the U.S. Air Force flew the C-17 in Agra in a joint-lift exercise.

India's current transport fleet has 40 Russian-made IL-76s and more than 100 Soviet-built AN-32 cargo aircraft. Six Lockheed Martin C-130Js are on order to be delivered in 2011. The AN-32s are currently undergoing midlife refurbishment under a joint program with Russia's Irkut.

With a payload capacity of around 160,000 lb. the C-17 can take off from a 7,600-ft. airfield, fly 2,400 nm, and land on a small, austere airfield in 3,000 ft. or less. It is equipped with an externally blown flap system that allows a steep, low-speed final approach and low-landing speeds for routine short-field landings.

"The potential sale of C-17s strengthens the growing partnership between our two countries, and demonstrates our enduring commitment to sharing the world's best technology with India," U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer says about the potential deal. "India is a leading partner in our efforts to promote regional stability, peace and economic growth."

The U.S.-India defense partnership is moving speedily with New Delhi having selected Boeing to provide eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy.

The C-17, the workhorse of the U.S. Air Force transport fleet, has proven highly reliable in the harsh environments of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Indian Air Force will use the C-17s to modernize India's armed forces with new cargo capabilities.
 
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...rcraft-sale-to-India-/articleshow/5859998.cms

US Congress notified on C-17 transport aircraft sale to India


Tags:Boeing|US Congress
NEW DELHI
: The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency has notified the Congress of a potential sale of 10 Boeing C-17 transport aircraft to India.

The notification of the sales of the aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) was submitted to the US Congress on April 22, according to an official release here.

"This is an important step forward in the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process and is a necessary prerequisite to negotiations on the deal," the release from the US embassy said.

After hearing of the notification, US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said, "The potential sale of C-17s strengthens the growing partnership between our two countries demonstrates our enduring commitment to sharing the world's best technology with India."

He said, the sale would offer economic benefits for India and the US and is likely to include significant job creation in both countries. "India is a leading partner in our efforts to promote regional stability, peace and economic growth," Roemer added.

The C-17 is the workhorse of the US Air Force transport fleet and has proven to be highly reliable in the harsh environments of Iraq and Afghanistan. The IAF would use the C-17s to modernise India's armed forces with new cargo capabilities and as a replacement for its ageing Russian IL-76 fleet.

With a 75-tonne payload, the C-17 can take off from a 7,000-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles in one go, and land even on a small, austere airfield at 3,000 feet or less. In addition to the US Air Force, the C-17 is currently in service with the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Canadian Forces, NATO and Qatar. The UAE too has placed orders for the aircraft.

Although the official notification to Congress lists the potential value as USD 5.8 billion, this represents the highest possible estimate for the sale, and includes all potential services offered.

The actual cost will be based on IAF's requirements and is yet to be negotiated. In addition to the C-17 airplanes themselves, if the IAF desires, it could purchase services that could include training for aircrew and maintenance personnel, spare parts, test and ground support equipment, technical assistance, engineering services, IAF-specific unique modifications, logistical and technical support.
 
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The notification "is a necessary prerequisite to negotiations on the deal," which could fetch up to 5.8 billion dollars, the embassy statement said. "The actual cost will be based on Indian Air Force requirements and has yet to be negotiated," it added.


The deal for 10 planes if finalized. One plane costs 200 million . The 5.8 billion is for the potential for 10 or more to be ordered and for all spares and servicing. If a total of 20 planes or more are bought this will give IAF massive air lift capability.
 
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pavanvenkatesh

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GR8 news can't wait the c-17's are exellent transport a/c they will be very useful in our borders in high mountains
 

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Great News. Finally the forces are working on the backbone- the logistics side. These are not just transport a/c but IMO they are real force multipliers and give our forces the edge over the rivals.
 
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With the C-17 order what will happen to our IL-76's? One possible could be to use them in our indigenous AWACS program.
 

pankaj nema

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The whole deal is reported to be about 5.8 billion dollars. the per unit cost as compared to IL 76 is two and halftimes.

Remember the A 330 refeuller deal scrapped by fin min . Is IL 76 that bad.
 

VersusAllOdds

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Americans make the best transport planes I think. Pretty good news for IAF!
I never quite understood what's the point of a jet transport aircraft... Why just don't get 3 times as many C-130s :) Also, aren't the C-5 better than C-17, I mean can carry heavier loads and all?
 

mehrotraprince

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Its a good choice, but still India will not purchase critical military equipments like fighter aircrafts and will stick to its old partner Russia. Reason being US is still not reliable as far as India is considered.
 
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The whole deal is reported to be about 5.8 billion dollars. the per unit cost as compared to IL 76 is two and halftimes.

Remember the A 330 refeuller deal scrapped by fin min . Is IL 76 that bad.
The whole deal is with the hope that another order will be placed on top of the 10 that were ordered, each plane is 200 milllion. The IL-76 's are not bad and the air force should find a way to utilize the platform somewhere else.
 

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i think the IL is up for upgradation soon and with the MRTA coming up in the next decade with an order of 80 there is not much scope for further orders on this but the globemaster III is really something big but in the future will have heavy antanovs coming up too
 

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With the C-17 order what will happen to our IL-76's? One possible could be to use them in our indigenous AWACS program.
IAF operate 25 IL-76s, most of them are used for the main purpose of transporting ration to higher altitude stations in J&K and Siachen. After An-32 complete their current upgrades we can see these IL-76 flying far north for their upgrades, almost time when C-17s rush their commissioning.IL-76 may remain actively operational for a decade or more without any problems.

I doubt IAF will choose these used planes for AWACS role. There might be fresh order of few Beriev A-50. Besides current AEW&CS platform under development will use Embraer EMB-145. These will complement Phalcons or in better words will be the backup for Phalcons. (Who knows if Desi RTA becomes success, IAF will order them. There is requirement of 20 such Desi AWACS)

Just speculation, but IAF might use these C-17s for sole purpose of troop & equipment ferrying with frequent exercise missions.

Tajikistan base might get expansion or Mongolia base might become reality or/and Oman Base is getting signed. In any of such future situation C-17 would be a serious tool without hampering Internal airlifting requirements. If these 10 C-17 get follow on order to make it 10+10 C-17 then it'll be bring a real muscle to IAF's strategic air lifting capability.

P.S: IMO C-17B should be considered for future orders since it is housing some good modifications over current C-17.


Is IL 76 that bad.
IL-76 ain't any bad IMHO. We'll continue to use them perhaps some orders could be seen for Tanker role. Its still the cheapest & the most efficient option. Our armed forces are tasting military toys of all around the world so why leave C-17 to understand the western technology handling which can be used to integrate with desi+Ruski tech to produce Indian Heavy Lift Transport aircraft in next decade...


Why just don't get 3 times as many C-130s :)
Indo-Russian MTA (IL-214) with same payload capacity coming soon which would be way cheaper.... :) :)


Also, aren't the C-5 better than C-17, I mean can carry heavier loads and all?
Very astute! C-5 has 100,000 lbs of more load carrying capacity than C-17.
But most probably what could have deterred the C-17 preference is the pretty long & serious history of C-5 accidents and malfunctions.
 
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http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-...military-deal-with-India/Article1-536153.aspx

US eyes biggest ever military deal with India


The US has laid the groundwork for inking its biggest-ever military deal with India.

Clearing the way for selling 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft worth $ 5.8 billion (Rs 26,100 crore), the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency has notified the Congress of a possible foreign military sale (FMS) to the Indian Air Force.

The notification is a necessary prerequisite to negotiations on the deal.

The Indian defence ministry had requested the US in January 2010 for outright purchase of 10 C-17 planes to modernise the IAF's airlift capabilities.

A tactical and strategic airlifter, the C-17 can deliver combat equipment, troops or humanitarian aid to small airfields.
The aircraft, which is the workhorse of the US Air Force transport fleet, can land troops on semi-prepared runways.

US Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer said, "The potential sale of C-17s strengthens the growing partnership between our two countries, and demonstrates our enduring commitment to sharing the world's best technology with India."

There are currently 212 C-17s in service worldwide, including 19 with international customers.

A US Embassy release said on Monday, "Although the official notification to Congress lists the potential value as $5.8 billion, this represents the highest possible estimate for the sale and includes all potential services." The actual cost would be based on IAF's requirements and has yet to be negotiated.

Boeing bagged a $2.1-billion (around Rs 9,450 crore) contract for selling eight P-8 long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian Navy in January 2009. The first aircraft is to be delivered by 2013 and the remaining over the next two years (2015).
 

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