Source: DTN News By Roger Smith(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 4, 2010: The US Congress has cleared the sale of C-17 Globemaster III strategic aircraft for India, ahead of the crucial Cabinet-level Strategic Dialogue between the two countries according to DTN News.
The Obama Administration had in April notified the US Congress of the potential sale of 10 C-17 aircraft to India and sought approval in this regard. "We are pleased that India's intent to buy 10 C-17 Globemaster III has received U.S. congressional approval," Dr Vivek Lall, Vice President and Country Head, Boeing Defence, Space and Security, India, told the media in New Delhi.
With this, the Indian government is one step closer to acquiring the C-17 which we believe is ideally suited to meet India's airlift needs for military and humanitarian purposes, he said. "The submittal of the Letter of Acceptance to the Government of India will be the next step towards finalizing the Foreign Military Sale," Lall said. "The aircraft are being sold to India under the US Government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, with the maximum package value of USD 5.8 billion.
That includes the 3. 8 per cent administrative fee that the government charges to ensure timely delivery and guarantee the supplies," reported India Strategic in its latest issue. A senior Obama Administration official William Burns had yesterday defended arms sale to India by arguing that this commensurate with New Delhi's expanding role as well as America's own interest.
In June 2009, the Indian Air Force (IAF) selected the C-17 to fulfill its Very Heavy Lift Transport Aircraft requirement. If the deal is approved by the Indian Defense Ministry, the C-17 would replace the Ilyushin Il-76 as the largest heavy lift transport aircraft in-service with the IAF. According to the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P. V. Naik, the IAF plans to order ten C-17 aircraft. As of June 2009, the selection was being reviewed by the Indian Defense Ministry, but an order has not been placed.
According to DTN News, the Indian media reports in October 2009, the Defense Acquisition Council of India has "almost finalized" the deal with the United States for 10 C-17s. US Ambassador to India, Timothy J. Roemer, expressed optimism over the deal and said that the United States was committed to expanding the "strategic lift capability" of the Indian Air Force. In January 2010, the US Government received a request from India for 10 C-17s through a Foreign Military Sale. In June 2010, the US Congress approved the sale of 10 C-17s to India under the US's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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