C-17 Globemaster III (IAF)

[sandeepdg]

Why didn't we team up with Ukraine and ask for a heavily modified AN-124 Ruslan that could STOL as well as be more fuel-efficient with latest engines? An-124s are even bigger and powerful.

That sort of a monster machine can never be fuel efficient, no matter what engines you put in it. Plus, Russian engines have been known more for their power rather than fuel efficiency. But, we can sure do with a few (7-8) of these mighty birds.

 

[keshtopatel]

CAN A C-17 LAND ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER?

 

[nrj]

I believe main bases would be Agra, Chandigarh or Ambala and Nagpur. Agra is home base for the IL-78 and most of the AN-32s, it was the home base for the IL-76 as well till they shifted to Nagpur. Agra is one the biggest bases of the IAF and has housed all major light and heavy transport squadrons since independence.

Yeah, I too feel that Ambala & Nagpur would be stations of C17s. Nagpur's location gives advantage of being in equal reach to any corner of country. Not to forget initial period will see extensive exercises from these C17s so appropriate facilities & training fields (i.e for Airdrops, Rapid equipment deployment etc) will be required.

I believe the total order will end up in 10+10

 

[plugwater]

India, US may sign $3.5 billion defence deal

NEW DELHI: The largest-ever defence deal between India and the US — acquisition of 10 C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft by the Indian Air Force for $3.5 billion, nearly Rs 16,100 crore at current exchange rates, — is likely to be inked during US President Barack Obama's planned visit to India this November.

Negotiations have reached the final stage and each of the giant transport aircraft, which can carry helicopters too, would be priced at around $300 million. After spares and maintenance are included, the final deal size would be around $3.5 billion, making it the biggest defence deal between the two countries.

The C-17, also known as Hercules C-17, was deployed by the US in Iraq as well as Afghanistan. It is utilised for air dropping paratroopers and supplies, emergency evacuation and carrying heavy equipment like tanks.

Interestingly, a C-17 accompanies the US President when he flies on the Air Force One, carrying the Presidential limousine and security apparatus. The C-17 is manufactured by Boeing and the IAF deal is being concluded through government-to-government negotiations under the US' Foreign Military Sales programme. The IAF wants the C-17 to replace its Russian Ilyushin IL-76 fleet that now acts as its primary transport aircraft. The IL-76 fleet is ageing and the C-17 is likely to provide IAF with much stronger transport capabilities.

Having a modern transport aircraft will also help in relief operations during natural calamities.

While the deal would be finalised at the government level, Boeing will handle its implementation as well as the offsets. Mark Kronenberg, vice-president for international business development at Boeing's defence, space and security division, said India would have the largest C-17 fleet outside the US once the deal is successfully concluded. Currently, UK has the largest C-17 fleet outside the US with eight aircraft, followed by Qatar and Australia. Without going into the deal's timing or its value, he said that Boeing would come into the picture after the two governments complete their negotiations.

The C-17 acquisition will be bigger than the $2-billion deal for eight P-81 maritime reconnaissance planes signed in 2009, highly-placed government sources said. It is a major agreement between the two governments, they said on condition of anonymity. This huge order will come in handy for the Obama administration to highlight as one of the steps it has taken to rev up the US economy and create employment. Indian companies will also benefit since the government's offset policy mandates that 30% of the deal value flows back as offset business. The offset business for this deal is estimated to be around $1 billion.

The C-17 can carry a payload of around 77,500 kg and has a range of more than 5,200 km. It can land even on runways that are just 3,500 ft long and 90 ft wide. The cruise speed of this heavy-lift transport aircraft is around 853 km/hour. The IAF had conducted a trial with the C-17 in June.

Ever since the two countries entered into a strategic alliance, India has been buying American defence equipment. In 2009, for example, a $1-billion deal for six C-130 J 'Super Herculus' aircraft was inked and earlier this year 24 Harpoon Block III anti-ship missiles were bought for $170 million. The government also bought special VVIP aircraft from the US — also Boeing made —for use by the Prime Minister and the President.

The US President is likely to visit Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar in November, the sources added. Obama is likely to stay at the Taj in Mumbai, which was attacked by terrorists in 2008, as a sign of solidarity with India's fight against cross-border terrorism. He is also likely to visit the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, another site of the deadly terrorist attack.

India, US may sign $3.5 billion defence deal - The Economic Times

 

[nitesh]

C-17 deal with India could create 30,000 jobs in US: Blake - The Economic Times

"India and the US are working toward finalising an agreement for Indian Air Force to acquire ten C-17 Globemaster aircraft. This USD 4.4 billion deal could potentially create up to 30,000 jobs in the US," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake said at the 27th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Lecture at San Diego State University in California.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India will be the have the largest inventory of c-17's outside of USA. Many NATO nations have 3-4 planes, 16 planes is a huge number.

 

[nitesh]

well this is interesting:
Russia, Ukraine to build 60 An-124 cargo planes | Russia | RIA Novosti

 

[JHA]

And why it looks like we will end up buying some of the An-124 ..Although I'll be happy to have some of these monsters ..

 

[civfanatic]

A question - Why did we go for the C-17s instead of An-124s?

Some stats for each bird -

C-17 Globemaster III:
Payload: 77,519 kg
Troop carrying capacity: 102 with standard steats (134 with palletised seats)
Range: 4,482 km
Unit Cost: $191 million

An-124 Ruslan:
Payload: 150,000 kg
Troop carrying capacity: 88 (+350 with palletised seats)
Range: 5,400 km
Unit Cost: $70-100 million


Can someone explain to me why the C-17 is superior??

 

[nitesh]

It is futile to compare both planes, they are in different category. Compare it AN 124 with C5, that will be good caparison. Now as the production is starting, we have option for adding super heavy freighters for IAF, provided IAF is interested in these beasts. All in all C 17 is a good choice.

 

[bengalraider]

the price just went up from 3.5bil$ to 4.4bil$

US seeks $4.4 bn Globemaster deal before Obama visit

2010-10-02 11:40:00
Washington, Oct 2 (IANS) The United States and India are working on a $4.4 billion deal for the Indian Air Force to acquire ten C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to India, according to a senior US official. The deal could potentially create up to 30,000 jobs in the US.

The possible deal was cited as an example of agreements envisioned by Obama for India-US partnership by Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake at the 27th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Lecture at San Diego State University, California.

'Obama envisions a partnership with India where businesses create new wealth with job opportunities for the peoples of both countries, where scientists can develop jointly new drugs to combat global diseases, and where our militaries can work to protect global sea lanes from piracy,' he said.

As India emerges as a global player, it seeks to build a 21st century military with the latest cutting-edge technology, Blake said noting 'Instead of relying on its historical partner Russia for hardware, it has started to look to the US.'

Often referred to as the 'workhorse of the US military' the Globemaster transport aircraft will boost India's strategic airlift capabilities, improving its ability to respond to military and humanitarian crises in India and around the globe, he said.

This $4.4 billion deal could create up to 30,000 jobs in the US and would be particularly important for Southern California as the assembly line for these colossal aircraft is located in Long Beach, officials said.

San Diego-based M Ship, a small, but very innovative naval architecture and technology firm has reached out to begin 'preliminary work' with a Hyderabad-based company to find new building materials, he said. This could enable further US-India collaboration in M Ship's building and design endeavours.

Another San Diego-based company Qualcomm has made enormous strides in integrating itself into the Indian marketplace, creating jobs in the San Diego area and setting itself up to be a leader in wireless services in India, Blake said. It will partner with two Indian-based telecommunication firms to provide exceptional mobile broadband coverage for millions of Indians.

Other strong San Diego business linkages include Amylin Pharmaceuticals which has partnered with Bangalore-based Biocon, India's largest biotech firm, to develop a new diabetes drug.

Amylin would contribute technology capable of combining two hormones into a single drug, while Biocon will manufacture the product and offer development expertise, and the companies will share development costs.

Yet another example of a San Diego-area company that has forged a partnership with India is the firm International Stem Cells, based in Oceanside. They have partnered with a Hyderabad-based biomedical company to develop pharmaceuticals.

'No longer are US-India business ties a 'one way street,'' Blake said citing a recent study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

It showed that Indian firms are investing almost as much in the US as their American counterparts are in India,' he said giving the examples of Mahindra Group's tractor units in Texas, Tennessee, and California and Reliance Industries' plans to explore for and develop shale gas in the US.

A new poll conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs also shows that Americans have an increasingly favourable view of India, and Americans increasingly favour a free trade agreement with India, a figure that has risen 9 percentage points in just four years.

Blake predicted that 'this positive sentiment will only continue to rise, as both Americans and Indians see the huge and growing synergies between the United States and India.'

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at [email protected])

:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::

 

[JBH22]

the price just went up from 3.5bil$ to 4.4bil$

where is the usual outcry when this happens in Indo-Russian deal

 

[bengalraider]

Air-borne dropping of tanks? like via parachutes?

her's a vid of 4 M551 Sheridians being dropped from a C5 Galaxy

 

[bengalraider]

as for all the C-17 vs Il-76 crowd, I have the utmost respect for the gajraj hell! some people i know owe the plane their life, however the Indian airforce needs an aircraft that can land and takeoff from hastily/unprepared runways (think ladakh) this is something good old gajraj cannot do the C-17 however , well see for urself
dirt landing
dirt takeoff
ice landing
ice takeoff

and that gentleman is the primary reason for the C-17's selection there is no other heavy lifter in the world that can do both these things period.(the Il-76 can land and takeoff from ice only the An -124 can do neither)

 

[bengalraider]

CAN A C-17 LAND ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER?

Fake !
The C-17 never landed on a carrier ytthe picture is pure photoshop, the only medium /heavy lift aircraft that has ever really complted a carrier landing successfully is the C-130, vid below

 

[Arahan]

WTF!!!!!! boeing planning to sell C-17s to pukiland!

In addition to India and Kuwait, Boeing is also negotiating possible sales with Saudi Arabia, Oman, South Africa, Pakistan and reportedly Egypt, among others.

Kuwait and the $693M C-17 Deal

Kuwait and the $693M C-17 Deal - ContraCostaTimes.com

Kristopher Hanson, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/29/2010 05:34:52 PM PDT
Updated: 09/29/2010 07:08:10 PM PDT

LONG BEACH - The tiny, oil-rich nation of Kuwait is ready to spend nearly $700 million for a single Boeing C-17 backed by a long-term global maintenance and support plan, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The deal comes as foreign interest in the Long Beach-built aircraft has surged in recent months, increasing hopes here that the plant and its 5,000 workers will remain busy well into the decade.

The Kuwait proposal was revealed as details for a 10-jet, $5.8-billion deal for the Indian Air Force are being finalized in Washington, where Congress holds ultimate authority for U.S. military sales abroad.

The Pentagon said Kuwait is seeking a jet to ferry humanitarian aid and workers to hot spots around the region.

"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO ally which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," the Department of Defense said in a statement.

The Kuwaiti Air Force wants Boeing's most advanced C-17, which includes anti-missile defenses, in-flight refueling capabilities and four Turbofan engines.

The package also includes an extensive maintenance and support plan, a spare engine, extra parts, crew training and on-the-spot repair at bases across the world.

If approved, the jet would likely be built between 2012-2013, and would put Kuwait among a small but growing list of international C-17 owners.

In addition to the U.S., which owns more than 200, the C-17 has been sold to the United Kingdom, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Canada and NATO.

In addition to India and Kuwait, Boeing is also negotiating possible sales with Saudi Arabia, Oman, South Africa, Pakistan and reportedly Egypt, among others.

In a memo to Congress, the Pentagon said Kuwait wants the C-17 for "relief support, humanitarian disaster and peacekeeping missions, as well as transporting dignitaries and cultural assets to various regional and international destinations."

Designed to takeoff and land on short, unpaved runways and run on bio-fuel derived from animal fat, the hulking jet has become one of the globe's most widely used cargo planes in recent years, ferrying supplies, personnel and even injured and sick to and from war zones and disaster sites.

The C-17 played prominent roles in such disasters as the Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, Indian Ocean tsunami and recent Pakistani floods, where more than 500,000 people have been left homeless.

Foreign demand is expected to keep production humming past the scheduled 2013 closure of the C-17 plant next to Long Beach Airport, maintaining California's last airplane production site and one of only three such facilities in America.

Some 5,000 are employed in Long Beach engineering, designing, building, marketing and repairing the roughly 220 C-17s in circulation internationally.

 

[Patriot]

C-17 A Carefully Considered Choice: IAF Chief

There's been a healthy measure of skepticism recently about India's decision to buy 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster-III heavylift transports from the US. Arguments against the purchase have ranged from questioning the need for such aircraft to calling attention to the huge acquisition cost, to suspicion about the speed from interest to potential contract conclusion, likely to take place when President Barack Obama is in Delhi later this year.

Well, for what it was worth, the Indian Air Force chief was asked today if the soon to be concluded C-17 deal was simply another piece of business thrown Washington's way in line with India's new strategic imperatives. Air Chief Naik replied, "A great amount of thought and planning has gone into our decision to obtain the C-17. My team did a detailed study about what was available and what capabilities were out there. There were no compulsions. We had requirements that dictated a certain amount of lift capacity and the ability to operate from short runways. The C-17 turned out to be the only aircraft in the global market that met both requirements. The other heavylift types, with six or eight engines, cannot function from short runways, and that was a basic requirement."




Livefist - The Best of Indian Defence: C-17 A Carefully Considered Choice: IAF Chief

 

[civfanatic]

WTF!!!!!! boeing planning to sell C-17s to pukiland!

What else do you expect from these two-faced Americans...

They sell us arms at the same time that they give free "military aid" to Pakistan, and when we fight each other in the future, they will just sit back and laugh while we both use American arms to kill each other.

The ultimate winner in this scenario is neither India nor Pakistan, but U.S. arms suppliers and the U.S. Military-Industrial Complex.

 

[death.by.chocolate]

What else do you expect from these two-faced Americans...

Er..this is an awkward conversation , I didn't realize we were exclusive.:emot15:

I guess Russia, France ,Sweden and Germany don't feel the same way either - since all these nations sell arms to both India and Pakistan.
Terrible ..terrible world we live in..

 

[civfanatic]

Er..this is an awkward conversation , I didn't realize we were exclusive.:emot15:

I guess Russia, France ,Sweden and Germany don't feel the same way either - since all these nations sell arms to both India and Pakistan.
Terrible ..terrible world we live in..

Russia does not sell any arms to Pakistan. And at any rate none of the other nations you mentioned give free, high-tech weapons to Pakistan like the U.S. does.