The Indian Air Force is planning to acquire ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III to fulfil its need for very-heavy-lift transport aircraft (VHTAC). The IAF will be able to carry large equipment including tanks, supplies and troops weighing up to 70t directly to small airfields in harsh terrain in the C-17s. The aircraft can fly a crew of two pilots, one loadmaster and two observers. The airlifter will enable the aircrew to fly on long-distance missions and refuel in-air and use it as an aerial ambulance. The air force can fly the Globemaster III with one joystick, like a fighter jet, enabling quick take-offs at steep angles and giving it flexibility in the war zone. At present, India has fewer than 20 heavy-lift IL-76 aircraft purchased in the 1980s that are not suited for high-demand tasks. IAF is also planning flight trials for the six medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCAs) between July 2009 and March 2010.*
India is negotiating a $1.7 billion deal to purchase 10 Boeing-made C-17 Globemasters. (Senior Airman Laura Turner / U.S. Air Force) The U.S. Air Force flew the Globemaster in a joint air exercise between the air forces of the two countries held in India Oct. 19-23 at Agra to let the Indian military familiarize itself with the transport craft, said a senior Indian Air Force official.
India is negotiating the purchase of 10 C-17 aircraft made by U.S.-based Boeing, disregarding the Russian IL-76 transport even though the American aircraft is three times costlier, Defence Ministry sources said. The C-17's advantages include its easier handling (compared with the IL-76) and ability to operate from short and rough airstrips, added the sources.
The $1.7 billion deal, likely to be finalized by early 2010, would be Boeing's second-largest deal with India since New Delhi signed a $2.1 billion agreement in January to purchase eight P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.
The Indian military needs to do three things: augment its ability to quickly lift larger numbers of troops as it views possible threats on its border with China; strengthen its presence on the Pakistani border; and fight terrorism and low-intensity warfare, said a senior Defence Ministry official.
India needs to triple its lift capacity, said the official.
India already has contracted for six C-130J aircraft from the United States, the delivery of which is expected to begin by 2011.
The Air Force's current fixed-wing transport fleet comprises 40 Russian-made IL-76 and more than 100 AN-32s, which are being upgraded by Ukraine, and the U.S.-made C-130J transport aircraft.
In addition, the Indian Defence Forces are buying about 800 rotary-wing assets in the next seven years.
In July, India signed a $400 million contract with Ukrainian military export agency Ukrspetsexport to upgrade 100 Soviet-built AN-32 cargo aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
Friday, November 06, 2009
DTN News: India Seeks To Bolster Transport With 10 C-17s Heavy-Lift Globemaster Aircraft / Indian Air Force To Acquire 10 C-17 Globemaster III
DTN News: India Seeks To Bolster Transport With 10 C-17s Heavy-Lift Globemaster Aircraft / Indian Air Force To Acquire 10 C-17 Globemaster III Heavy-Lift Aircraft
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - November 6, 2009: The Indian Defence Ministry is negotiating the purchase of C-17 heavy-lift Globemaster aircraft from the United States through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, say ministry sources.The Indian Air Force is planning to acquire ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III to fulfil its need for very-heavy-lift transport aircraft (VHTAC). The IAF will be able to carry large equipment including tanks, supplies and troops weighing up to 70t directly to small airfields in harsh terrain in the C-17s. The aircraft can fly a crew of two pilots, one loadmaster and two observers. The airlifter will enable the aircrew to fly on long-distance missions and refuel in-air and use it as an aerial ambulance. The air force can fly the Globemaster III with one joystick, like a fighter jet, enabling quick take-offs at steep angles and giving it flexibility in the war zone. At present, India has fewer than 20 heavy-lift IL-76 aircraft purchased in the 1980s that are not suited for high-demand tasks. IAF is also planning flight trials for the six medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCAs) between July 2009 and March 2010.*
India is negotiating a $1.7 billion deal to purchase 10 Boeing-made C-17 Globemasters. (Senior Airman Laura Turner / U.S. Air Force) The U.S. Air Force flew the Globemaster in a joint air exercise between the air forces of the two countries held in India Oct. 19-23 at Agra to let the Indian military familiarize itself with the transport craft, said a senior Indian Air Force official.
India is negotiating the purchase of 10 C-17 aircraft made by U.S.-based Boeing, disregarding the Russian IL-76 transport even though the American aircraft is three times costlier, Defence Ministry sources said. The C-17's advantages include its easier handling (compared with the IL-76) and ability to operate from short and rough airstrips, added the sources.
The $1.7 billion deal, likely to be finalized by early 2010, would be Boeing's second-largest deal with India since New Delhi signed a $2.1 billion agreement in January to purchase eight P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.
The Indian military needs to do three things: augment its ability to quickly lift larger numbers of troops as it views possible threats on its border with China; strengthen its presence on the Pakistani border; and fight terrorism and low-intensity warfare, said a senior Defence Ministry official.
India needs to triple its lift capacity, said the official.
India already has contracted for six C-130J aircraft from the United States, the delivery of which is expected to begin by 2011.
The Air Force's current fixed-wing transport fleet comprises 40 Russian-made IL-76 and more than 100 AN-32s, which are being upgraded by Ukraine, and the U.S.-made C-130J transport aircraft.
In addition, the Indian Defence Forces are buying about 800 rotary-wing assets in the next seven years.
In July, India signed a $400 million contract with Ukrainian military export agency Ukrspetsexport to upgrade 100 Soviet-built AN-32 cargo aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
The Indian Air Force is planning to acquire ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III to fulfil its need for very-heavy-lift transport aircraft (VHTAC). The IAF will be able to carry large equipment including tanks, supplies and troops weighing up to 70t directly to small airfields in harsh terrain in the C-17s. The aircraft can fly a crew of two pilots, one loadmaster and two observers. The airlifter will enable the aircrew to fly on long-distance missions and refuel in-air and use it as an aerial ambulance. The air force can fly the Globemaster III with one joystick, like a fighter jet, enabling quick take-offs at steep angles and giving it flexibility in the war zone. At present, India has fewer than 20 heavy-lift IL-76 aircraft purchased in the 1980s that are not suited for high-demand tasks. IAF is also planning flight trials for the six medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCAs) between July 2009 and March 2010.*
India is negotiating a $1.7 billion deal to purchase 10 Boeing-made C-17 Globemasters. (Senior Airman Laura Turner / U.S. Air Force) The U.S. Air Force flew the Globemaster in a joint air exercise between the air forces of the two countries held in India Oct. 19-23 at Agra to let the Indian military familiarize itself with the transport craft, said a senior Indian Air Force official.
India is negotiating the purchase of 10 C-17 aircraft made by U.S.-based Boeing, disregarding the Russian IL-76 transport even though the American aircraft is three times costlier, Defence Ministry sources said. The C-17's advantages include its easier handling (compared with the IL-76) and ability to operate from short and rough airstrips, added the sources.
The $1.7 billion deal, likely to be finalized by early 2010, would be Boeing's second-largest deal with India since New Delhi signed a $2.1 billion agreement in January to purchase eight P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.
The Indian military needs to do three things: augment its ability to quickly lift larger numbers of troops as it views possible threats on its border with China; strengthen its presence on the Pakistani border; and fight terrorism and low-intensity warfare, said a senior Defence Ministry official.
India needs to triple its lift capacity, said the official.
India already has contracted for six C-130J aircraft from the United States, the delivery of which is expected to begin by 2011.
The Air Force's current fixed-wing transport fleet comprises 40 Russian-made IL-76 and more than 100 AN-32s, which are being upgraded by Ukraine, and the U.S.-made C-130J transport aircraft.
In addition, the Indian Defence Forces are buying about 800 rotary-wing assets in the next seven years.
In July, India signed a $400 million contract with Ukrainian military export agency Ukrspetsexport to upgrade 100 Soviet-built AN-32 cargo aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
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I've said it many times before: its is not true that the Boeing C-17 can go into that many unpaved runways that the Il-76 cannot. Although true that the C-17 lands and takes off shorter than an IL-76, the C-17 has such a heavy footprint that it CANNOT land on a routine basis on regular unpaved runways, and when it does, it tears these runways apart, quickly rendering the unpaved runways useless. The IL-76 spreads its weight on 20 wheels. The much heavier C-17 has but 14 wheels.
Furthermore, the C-17 relies on heavy braking, which is much less efficient on wet runways: so it can land short of dry runways, but requires twice as much stopping distance on wet runways. This is all addressed in several US Government GOA reports that are available on line.
Those that claim that IAF C-17s will be landing on short unsurfaced runways in India or elsewhere are either lying or being lied to.
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