C-17 Globemaster III (IAF)

[p2prada]

Ray sir.
We are discussing the concept of a speedy delivery of troops and armour over existential practices in this thread:

http://www.defenceforum.in/forum/showthread.php/208-India-s-Born-Again-T-90M-MBT?p=157832#post157832

The last few posts have been about the American FCS program and its relation to MBTs. Your opinion on this will be valuable.

 

[youngindian]

Trials over, Boeing awaits IAF decision on $5.8 billion C-17 deal

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 11:39 CET

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has conducted trials of a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft which had been taken at lease from US Air Force (USAF). The trials were conducted at the Gaggle Airport in northern India some 500 km from New Delhi on 23 June, ahead of the procurement of 10 giant strategic airlift aircraft for an estimated USD 5.8 billion.


The C-17 Globemaster deal is the largest Indo-US deal ever, overtaking the $2.1 billion contract for eight Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft inked last year.

The C-17 has the ability to ferry 70-ton loads to a distance of 2,400 nautical miles and use short, even makeshift, runways at high altitudes.

The aircraft was to undergo technical checks of the fuselage, seating and engines, as also Para-jumping and loading and unloading systems by IAF test pilots.

The C-17 has been flown to Gaggal airport from the IAF transport base at Agra, where the C-17s being acquired to replace the IAF's fleet of a dozen-odd Russian-origin Ilushin Il-76 'Gajraj' transporters will eventually be based.

The negotiations for the aircraft - being acquired via the Foreign Military Sales route - would only begin once US Congress, notified about India's requirement two months ago, approved the sale depending on the configuration the IAF wanted. India is seeking to build its own indigenous defense industry and is doing so by looking to use the best technologies in the defense sector.


http://www.defenseworld.net/go/defensenews.jsp?catid=3&id=4740&h=%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Trials%20over%20Boeing%20awaits%20IAF%20decision%20$5.8%20billion%20C-17%20deal

 

[nrj]

India is seeking to build its own indigenous defense industry and is doing so by looking to use the best technologies in the defense sector.

I think this itself answers the price tag of these high-value deals.

 

[EagleOne]

India-US begin price negotiations on C-17 airlifter

New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) India and the United States have begun talks here on the price and onboard equipment for the 10 Boeing C- 17 military transport aircraft that the Indian Air Force (IAF) wants.


According to reliable sources quoted by India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in), the validation trials of the aircraft were complete and that one United States Air Force (USAF) C-17 which had come to India in this regard last month had met the IAF specifications. The aircraft was tested in short and high altitude runways.

As India is buying the aircraft from the US government under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, the US Department of Defense (DOD) and USAF are leading the discussions from the supplier side and the Indian Ministry of Defence and the IAF are negotiating from the buyer side.

DOD has set the maximum price at $5.8 billion for the aircraft and various systems but the actual price would depend upon what equipment and onboard options the IAF finally selects.

The US government will issue a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) after these discussions are finalized, indicating the equipment, services, and lifecycle support and their costs. There would be a 3.8 percent administrative fee that the US government now charges on all FMS deals. (This fee varies periodically between 2.5 to 5 percent).

India Strategic quoted Boeing's Vice President for Global Mobility Systems Tommy Dunehew, who was here recently, as saying that Boeing has offered assured maintenance and supply of spares for the lifetime of the aircraft – say 40 years – and serviceability.

The aircraft is manufactured by Boeing at its Los Angeles facility.

According to an official Boeing statement, the latest large T-tailed C-17 Globemaster-III, which India is seeking, can carry a maximum payload of 74,797 kilograms for 2,400 nautical miles without refueling and 45,495 kilograms for 4,000 nautical miles without refueling.

The aircraft can also be refueled midair to extend its range to carry equipment and humanitarian aid across international distances.

The statement said that the C-17 can operate from "a small, austere airfield in 3,000 feet or less" with full payload. "The C-17 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."

Boeing has delivered 199 C-17s to the USAF. There are 19 C-17 aircraft with other international customers.

http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/2/155305.htm

 

[nrj]

^^^ Good news! Even if MOD places order by year-end, IAF can start receiving deliveries by late 2012 I guess. Now IAF should be readying pilots to fly them off for training. Is anybody sure that these T-tailed C17 sought by IAF are nothing but new variant C17 B ?

 

[youngindian]

Boeing C-17 Looks For Indian Lifeline


http://www.glgroup.com/News/Boeing-C-17-Looks-For-Indian-Lifeline-49446.html

 

[youngindian]

Strategy emerges to prevent more C-17 funding


http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/07/defense_c17_071410/

 

[nandu]

PHOTO: C-17 Snapped Over Delhi Recently When It Arrived For IAF Trials

http://livefist.blogspot.com/

 

[StealthSniper]

Boeing says more India C-17 orders possible


FARNBOROUGH, England, July 19 (Reuters) - India could buy 10 to 12 more C-17 transport planes from Boeing Co (BA.N) beyond the 10 planes already planned, Christopher Chadwick, president of Boeing military aircraft told Reuters on Monday.

Boeing, the No. 2 U.S. defense contractor, is forecasting strong demand for the C-17 planes, which have been used heavily during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Chadwick said at the Farnborough Airshow outside London.

Boeing had seen interest from multiple buyers in the Middle East and the Asian-Pacific region, and NATO countries could also buy more of the cargo planes in coming years, Chadwick said in an interview.

On Sunday, Boeing officials said the company could sell 20 more C-17 transport planes to foreign buyers over the next five to ten years, in addition to the 10 already planned for India.

Chadwick said the number could rise even higher, given expectations that India could eventually more than double its planned purchase of 10 C-17s.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency in April announced approval of the sale of the 10 transport planes and related equipment, putting its value at up to $5.8 billion.

Chadwick said Boeing expected a slight increase in military aircraft revenues internationally over the next five to 10 years, bolstered by sales of transport planes and fighter aircraft.

Chadwick said delays in international fighter competitions should not jeopardize Boeing's forecast for moderate growth in defense revenues in 2011, given strong domestic sales.

Boeing is negotiating a third multi-year procurement deal for its F/A-18 fighters with the U.S. government, which would make that production line "rock solid out through the middle of the decade," he said.

India was also expected to pick a winner in its competition for 126 new fighter jets early next year, he said, while Japan is due to issue a request for proposals later this year.

Brazil's fighter competition was also nearing an end, and a final decision could come next year, he said.

Boeing had a good track record in winning international competitions, Chadwick said, but the company's revenue forecast factored in possible wins by other contractors as well.

"There are so many competitions in play right now," he said. "We never count on all of it."

Link:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1915343420100719

 

[nrj]

Boeing in talks with South Africa on potential C-17 deal

The Boeing Company remains in talks with South Africa regarding the potential sale of its C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft in the light of the government's cancellation of its A400M order in November 2009.

Paul Oliver, vice-president, Middle East and Africa, international business development, at Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS), said: "We have had discussions, and South Africa is looking at its requirements."

The talks are "very much in the early phase", said Oliver. "We're telling them about the product."

The South African government decided on 4 November to withdraw from the A400M military transport aircraft programme due to delays and spiralling acquisition costs and in February, the US government proposed that the South African Air Force (SAAF) consider the C-17 and the Lockheed Martin C-130J super Hercules, as well as the Alenia C-27J Spartan aircraft.

In addition to a potential deal in South Africa, Boeing has indicated that it is maintaining a dialogue with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a view to offering additional C-17s should the UK opt to scale back its involvement in the A400M programme.

Dennis Muilenburg, president and chief executive of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said that his division "continues to engage with the MoD".

Source


Boeing working hard to keep the production line open.... :angry_1:

 

[youngindian]

India to buy six more C-17 airlifters from US


http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-to-buy-six-more-C-17-airlifters-from-US/Article1-582325.aspx

 

[JBH22]

Even 16 aircraft is to low Il-76 reaching end life...

 

[nrj]

Now thats something solid move. The first report indicated the possible deal of 10+10 C17 units. Unsigned CISMOA will make C17 miss DIRCM & other electronics. Where is Indian C17 base stations by the way? :angry_1:

 

[Aathithya2]

India to buy six more C-17 airlifters from US
BY: Indo-Asian News Service

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will buy six more C-17 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft in addition to the 10 already being acquired. India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) quotes the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, as saying

in its coming issue that these aircraft will also be purchased through the government-to-government route under the US' Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

The US Air Force (USAF), which is the nodal agency for the aircraft sale in this case, has already demonstrated the capability of the

C-17. One aircraft was brought to India in June and was made to land and take off from a short field in Himachal Pradesh as also from Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.

Discussions between the two governments to finalise the IAF's onboard equipment requirements, spares and service support and their duration, possibly over the lifetime of the aircraft, are still being held and are likely to be finalized soon.

The C-17 can ferry more than 70 tonnes of load over long distances, and can also be refueled in midair.

At present, India has less than 20 Il-76 heavy-lift aircraft, acquired in 1985 from what was then the Soviet Union. With a capacity of 45 tonnes, the aircraft is being upgraded to obtain a life extension of 10-15 years.

http://idrw.org/?p=183

 

[arps]

Now thats something solid move. The first report indicated the possible deal of 10+10 C17 units. Unsigned CISMOA will make C17 miss DIRCM & other electronics. Where is Indian C17 base stations by the way? :angry_1:

I think India may use Israili or some other western nation electronics for communication.

 

[nrj]

I think India may use Israili or some other western nation electronics for communication.

I mentioned in other thread also that, It'll be decade before we develop the matching electronic & avionics tech to integrate in these larger platforms even with JVs. Its a long long journey.

 

[gogbot]

I mentioned in other thread also that, It'll be decade before we develop the matching electronic & avionics tech to integrate in these larger platforms even with JVs. Its a long long journey.

But Surely our Space program will act as a catalyst as it did , through out most of our development history.

When we are talking about moving Payloads from the moon and back , a certain level of quality will be required

 

[nrj]

But Surely our Space program will act as a catalyst as it did , through out most of our development history.

When we are talking about moving Payloads from the moon and back , a certain level of quality will be required

Indeed true. However, I am afraid that we queue our defense programs to ISRO labs (HSTDV for example will see lot of work done by ISRO). But yes indirectly the space program will benefit the development of some very critical electronic systems.

 

[Tshering22]

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.

 

[sandeepdg]

Where is Indian C17 base stations by the way? :angry_1:

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.