Description and Purpose
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is designed to fulfill military and humanitarian airlift needs well into the 21st century. A high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed aircraft with a rear-loading ramp, the C-17 can carry large combat equipment and troops or humanitarian aid across international distances directly to small austere airfields anywhere in the world.
With a payload of 164,900 pounds, the C-17 can take off from a 7,000-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles, and land on a small, austere airfield in 3,000 feet or less. 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.
Customers
Worldwide, Boeing has delivered 227 C-17s. Boeing’s program of record with the U.S. Air Force is to design, build and deliver 223 C-17s through September, 2012. Boeing has delivered 207 C-17s to the USAF as of February, 2010.
There are 20 C-17s in service with five international customers. In November, 2010, President Obama announced India’s preliminary agreement for the acquisition of 10 C-17s. The U.S. Congress approved Kuwait’s letter of request in October, 2010, regarding the acquisition of one C-17. In January, 2010, Boeing and the United Arab Emirates announced that the UAE had agreed to acquire six C-17s in 2011 and 2012. The RAF has acquired seven C-17s; the Royal Australian Air Force and Canadian Defence Forces have each received four C-17s. The 12-nation Strategic Airlift Capability consortium---members of NATO and Partnership for Peace---received three C-17s in 2009. Qatar, the first Middle East customer to order C-17s, received two C-17s in 2009 and holds options for two more.
General Characteristics
Length: | 174 feet (53.04 m) |
Height at Tail: | 155.1 feet (16.79 m) |
Wing Span to Wingtips: | 169.8 feet (51.74 m) |
Maximum Payload: At 4,000 nautical miles: | 164,900 lbs. (74,797 kg) 100,300 lbs. (45,495 kg) |
Range with Payload: 160,000 pounds: 40,000 pounds (paratroop): | 2,420 nautical miles 5,610 nautical miles |
Cruise Speed: | 0.74 – 0.77 Mach |
Takeoff Field Length (Max Gross Weight): | 7,740 ft. (2,359.15 m) |
Landing Field Length: 160,000 lbs of Cargo: | 3,000 ft. (914.40 m) |
A cockpit crew of two and one loadmaster operates the C-17, which can be refueled in flight. This cost-effective flight crew complement is made possible through the use of an advanced digital avionics system and advanced cargo systems. In the cargo compartment the C-17 can carry Army wheeled vehicles in two side-by-side rows. Three combat ready Stryker infantry-fighting vehicles comprise one deployment load. Similarly, the Army’s newest main battle tank, the M-1, can be carried.
The four engines are Pratt & Whitney PW2040 series turbofans, designated as F117-PW-100 by the Air Force, each producing 40,440 pounds of thrust. The engines are equipped with directed-flow thrust reversers capable of deployment in flight. On the ground, a fully loaded aircraft, using engine reversers, can back up a two-percent slope.
Background
On December 10, 2010, the worldwide C-17 fleet reached the 2 million flight hours milestone. The U.S. Air Force declared the first C-17 squadron operational in January 1995. Since first flight in 1991, the fleet has amassed more than 1.9 million flying hours. C-17s have been involved in numerous contingency operations, including flying troops and equipment to Operation Joint Endeavor to support peacekeeping in Bosnia, Allied Force Operation in Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
During flight-testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., C-17s set 33 world records – more than any other airlifter in history – including payload to altitude, time-to-climb, and short-takeoff-and-landing marks in which the C-17 took off in less than 1,400 feet, carried a payload of 44,000 pounds to altitude, and landed in less than 1,400 feet.
Miscellaneous
USAF C-17s are based at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.; McChord Air Force Base, Wash.; the Air National Guard Base at Jackson, Miss.; McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.; March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; Altus Air Force Base, Okla., Dover Air Force Base, Delaware and Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. The RAF C-17s are based at Brize Norton in the United Kingdom. The Royal Australian Air Forces C-17 unit is based at Amberley, in Queensland, Australia. Canadian C-17s are based at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario. The NATO-led 12-nation Strategic Airlift Capability C-17 fleet is based at Pápa Air Base, Hungary. Qatar’s C-17s are assigned to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
Description and Purpose
The P-8I is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.
This military derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800 combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability in the future battle space.
Customer
The Indian navy is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing signed a contract Jan. 1, 2009, to deliver eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I within 48 months of contract signing, and the remaining seven by 2015.
India’s immediate need is for eight aircraft, but Boeing believes there is long-term potential for additional aircraft sales.
India’s immediate need is for eight aircraft, but Boeing believes there is long-term potential for additional aircraft sales.
General Characteristics
Propulsion: | Two CFM56-7 engines providing 27,300 pounds thrust each |
Length: | 39.47 meters |
Wing Span: | 37.64 meters |
Height: | 12.83 meters |
Maximum Takeoff Gross Weight: | 85,139 kilograms |
Speed: | 490 knots (789 km/h) |
Range: | 1,200+ nautical miles, with 4 hours on station (2,222 kilometers) |
Ceiling: | 12,496 meters |
Crew: | 9 |
Boeing will build the P-8I at its production facility in Renton, Wash. The 737 fuselage will be built by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kan., and then sent to Renton where all aircraft structural features unique to the P-8 will be incorporated in sequence during fabrication and assembly. Aircraft quality and performance acceptance flight testing will be conducted from Boeing Field in Seattle.
Background
Boeing was awarded a $3.89 billion contract for the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase of the P-8A Poseidon for the U.S. Navy on June 14, 2004. SDD activities include developing and integrating all the necessary software and onboard mission systems and developing training systems.
The P-8I is the first international model of the P-8A. In July 2010, Boeing successfully completed the final design review (FDR) for P-8I, locking in the design for the aircraft, radar, communications, navigation, mission computing, acoustics and sensors, as well as the ground and test support equipment. The final design review also paves the way for the program to begin assembling the first P-8I aircraft.
Miscellaneous
Boeing and its industry partners provide unrivaled expertise in both large-scale systems integration and network centric operations, plus unquestioned leadership in developing and customizing military and commercial products for maritime forces. Boeing leads an industry team that consists of CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, GE Aviation and Spirit AeroSystems. In addition, Boeing anticipates substantial industrial participation on the aircraft from Indian industry.
- A Partnership with the Indian Armed Forces
One of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses, Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) develops innovative solutions that address evolving capability requirements. The ability to provide customers with the right solutions at the right time and the right cost drives our worldwide success.
India’s defense requirements represent a $31 billion market for Boeing over the next 10 years.
Our rich portfolio of products and services, tailored to India’s unique needs, includes the combat-proven F/A-18IN Super Hornet multirole strike fighter, the P-8I multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, C-17 Globemaster III strategic lift cargo plane, the CH-47F heavy-lift Chinook helicopter, the combat-proven AH-64D Apache attack helicopter and the Harpoon missile. The Defense, Space & Security portfolio also extends to C4ISR platforms, airborne early warning and control systems, unmanned airborne systems, space, cybersecurity and services & support.
On Jan. 1, 2009, the Government of India signed a contract to purchase eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine aircraft from Boeing – the largest contract to date between the Indian government and a U.S. company. The P-8I, a variant of the U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon, is unique to India, focusing on the full range of India’s maritime surveillance and patrol missions. Delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for 2013.
The U.S. Navy and Boeing are offering the F/A-18IN Super Hornet as a candidate for the Indian Air Force’s requirement for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft. The F/A-18IN Super Hornet participated in the flight evaluation process that began in 2009 and is awaiting the next step in the selection process. The U.S. government recently announced a preliminary agreement on the sale of 10 C-17 Globemaster III Strategic Lift Aircraft to India. Boeing continues to respond to interest from the Indian Air Force in the military and humanitarian capabilities of the C-17. The C-17 performed in both the 2007 and 2009 Aero India shows in Bengaluru.
The Indian Air Force is evaluating Boeing’s CH-47 Chinook and AH-64D Apache for India’s heavy lift and attack helicopter requirements. Boeing submitted proposals for both aircraft in October 2009.
But sales are only half the India success story. Boeing is forging partnerships with numerous small and medium enterprises India, both directly and through its extensive network of suppliers, to enhance the country’s defense industry.
For example, Boeing and its F/A-18 Super Hornet Industry Supplier Team have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 38 companies in India in support of the MMRCA campaign. Coupled with other Boeing programs, the MMRCA offset program would lead to the creation of a world-class advanced production system for India’s future combat aircraft and provide the basis for significant export potential.
If the Super Hornet is selected to become India’s new, advanced multi-role combat fighter, then 108 of those 126 aircraft will be built in India by Indians working for HAL. This will lead to collaboration with industry partners on advanced aerospace technologies, the development of a robust supply chain out of India and engagement with defense public sector companies and small and medium businesses to boost India’s indigenization product goals.
In 2007, Boeing and HAL signed a 10-year MOU intended to bring more than US$1 billion of work to India and expand Boeing’s long-term partnership with HAL. Since signing the MOU, Boeing has placed numerous work packages in India and is supporting HAL’s planned growth by helping to develop advanced manufacturing processes, management approaches and capabilities.
HAL is currently contracted to manufacture the P-8I weapons bay door, tailcone, and IFFT, and the F/A-18 gun bay door and wiring harnesses. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has delivered for the P-8I the Indian-designed Data Link II and Identification Friend or Foe Interrogator (IFFI), a battle management system that will enable P-8I aircraft to distinguish friendly aircraft and forces. Boeing will install the systems during P-8I final assembly at its facility in Renton, Washington. BEL is also our partner on the Analysis & Experimentation Centre in Bangalore, which provides world-class modeling and analysis capability in support of the Indian Armed Forces.
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