Defence minister A K Antony
officially inducted another Boeing's C-17 Globemaster iii directly into Indian Air Force fleet that is expected to give it strategic advantage by augmenting
its capacity to airlift soldiers into warzone. This is the 3rd from the 10
Globemaster purchased by IAF (from USA) under its "Foreign Military sales
programme" .
Approval to purchase 10 C-17 Globemaster III for IAF was handed by government in June 2011 following which first aircraft touched down in India on 18th June 2013. Delivery of 10 is expected by November 2014.
A completely new squadron ((81 Squadron) has been formed for C-17 fleet named- “SKYLORDS” and it'll be based in Hindon (Ghaziabad).
C-17 Globemaster will also enhance IAF’s capability for Humanitarian Assistance and Diaster Relief” as it can certainly airlift large number of troops at a time.
Approval to purchase 10 C-17 Globemaster III for IAF was handed by government in June 2011 following which first aircraft touched down in India on 18th June 2013. Delivery of 10 is expected by November 2014.
A completely new squadron ((81 Squadron) has been formed for C-17 fleet named- “SKYLORDS” and it'll be based in Hindon (Ghaziabad).
C-17 Globemaster will also enhance IAF’s capability for Humanitarian Assistance and Diaster Relief” as it can certainly airlift large number of troops at a time.
C-17 will definitely enhance IAF load capabilities but I would have preferred that the IAF would have looked into procuring the C-27J Spartans which would be a better acquisition.
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