India has decided to purchase 10 C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift transport aircraft from the United States of American for the Indian Air Force. The deal under the Foreign Military Sales (Government-to-Government) is estimated to cost Rs. 18,000 crore (approximately $4.1 billion).
The contract, when signed would become the highest single value military contract that New Delhi would enter into with the United States and includes an offset obligation of around Rs. 4,500 crore ($ 1 billion). Under the clause, the U.S. company would have to source 30 per cent value of the order from India.
The IAF plans to base these heavy lift aircraft at Agra. These can carry 73,616 kilogramme of payload and can be operated by a crew of three-two in the cockpit and one loadmaster.
The plane can carry 188 passengers, has reverse thrust engines for short turn around and equipped with missile warning system with flares to disengage the incoming attack.
The IAF conducted trials last year including one in Himachal Pradesh to check it efficacy for short take off and landing with requisite cargo load. At present the Russian IL-76 "Gajraj" and AN-32 are the IAF workhorses for transporting men and material.
Earlier this year, the IAF inducted tactical lift C130J Super Hercules aircraft from the Lockheed Martin stable.
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