The C-17 continues to be a major player in the heavy air transportation business
Even though it is not one of Boeing’s newest products and despite the US government's decision to stop the production of the aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft remains one of the company’s most profitable assets. Moreover, the gigantic aircraft continues to be the backbone of the US Air Force’s strategic heavy-lift capability and is indispensable for America’s and NATO’s operations across the globe. As defpro.com reported yesterday, Boeing has received a $1.15 billion modified contract for the C-17 sustainment partnership fiscal year 2009. Within a large range of services, the Long Beach-based company will further ensure programme management as well as material and equipment management and will provide engine management and long term sustainment planning. The contract comprises the support of the US Air Force (USAF) as well as of Foreign Military Sale (FMS) operators of the C-17.
The aircraft which was developed during the 1980s and early 1990s and joined the Air Mobility Command (AMC) of the USAF in 1993, has since been sold and leased to a number of US allies, such as the UK (5), Australia (4) and Canada (4). With the C-17, the British Royal Air Force is the only European force which can, at present, provide heavy air-transportation from within its own inventory. Since first deliveries were made to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in late 2006, the C-17 has also proven to be of great assistance to Australia in deploying and supporting troops as well as providing humanitarian support to Papua New Guinea (2007) and Burma (2008).
To depict the C-17’s transport capacity, the Royal Australian Air Force explains, on its homepage, that the Globemaster is large enough to transport the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank, Black Hawk, Seahawk or Chinook helicopters, three Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters or five Bushmaster infantry vehicles. It has three times the carrying capacity of the C-130 Hercules. Compared to the 45 ton cargo capacity of the Il-76 – one of the major airlift platforms for the current supply of NATO forces in Afghanistan – the C-17 operates in another league in its ability to transport up to 70 tons.
The C-17 in the skies of the Persian Gulf
In addition to the above named customers, as well as of the NATO Strategic Airlift Capability Programme detailed below, Boeing’s Globemaster will now take to the skies of the Persian Gulf. Both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar have signed FMS contracts with the United States for the procurement of C-17s, respectively in mid 2008 and early 2009. After the Qatar Emiri Air Force received its first C-17 this month, the UAE is still waiting for the delivery of their first aircraft. During this year’s International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, the UAE has signed deals worth $3 billion to purchase twelve C-130Js and four C-17s, becoming the sixth international customer for this aircraft type. Qatar bought two Globemasters and is now anticipating the delivery of the second aircraft by late 2009.
"Qatar's selection of the C-17 reflects the strong international interest we continue to see in this advanced airlifter – especially in the Middle East, where it brings unparalleled capabilities for military, humanitarian and disaster-relief missions," said Tommy Dunehew, Boeing Global Mobility Systems vice president of Business Development, during the hand-over ceremony for the first C-17 of the Middle East country. According to media reports, Boeing has also identified India, Japan, the Netherlands and Singapore as potential future buyers. In June, India short listed the C-17 as its new Very Heavy Lift Transport Aircraft (VHTAC). The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to acquire ten C-17s through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales framework. The first aircraft are expected to be delivered three years after a contract is signed, according to Indian officials.
A further key asset for NATO’s logistic capabilities
During the past few weeks the C-17 has not only made news with deals and deliveries, but has further gained a new reference for its ability to meet complex airlift requirements in a multi-national framework. This framework has been dubbed Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) Programme and includes the NATO member nations Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and the United States, as well as Partnership for Peace nations Finland and Sweden. After these countries jointly acquired three C-17s, in a 30-year programme somewhat similar to the NATO AWACS programme, the first aircraft was delivered on 18 July to the NATO Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) at Pápa Air Base, Hungary, by pilots from Norway, Sweden and the United States.
"The HAW was created as an answer to help other nations meet global reach commitments," said Colonel John Zazworsky, HAW commander. "Airlift is very expensive and for some nations this provides an alternative to having to front that entire cost alone." The nations' varying investments, including a portion of the unit's 131 personnel, dictate their amount of annual flying hours. For example, Romania contributed funds toward the initial cost of purchasing the aircraft, and have eight personnel assigned to the unit in exchange for 200 flying hours. The NATO Airlift Management Agency (NAMA) will handle acquisition, logistics support and financial matters.
SAC 01 has begun operational missions in support of the nations' requirements in early August and anticipates flying roughly 630 hours before the end of 2009 and more than 3,100 flying hours in 2010, all of which will be flown by multi-national aircrews, regardless of the nation to which the mission belongs.
Keeping the production running
And in addition to the above success stories, the US Air Force ordered an additional 15 C-17 Globemaster IIIs worth some $2.95 billion back in February, keeping alive the production of the aircraft, which had been on the verge of closing down as orders had significantly been reduced. The US Air Force will operate a total of 186 C-17s when delivery of all ordered aircraft have been completed and has, thereby, demonstrated its further commitment to this platform.
Keeping the production line open was of paramount importance to Boeing since the uncertain status of the European heavy airlift capabilities has not been resolved and the Globemaster III is virtually the only alternative to the Il-76 so far leased by NATO members for their support of military operations abroad.
The recent export success of the aircraft, even though still small in numbers, and the potential for further contracts to be signed in Asia as well as, perhaps, due to a growing NATO requirement, should enable Boeing to keep production and services for the aircraft on a profitable level.
Key specifications
• Crew: 3 (2 pilots, 1 loadmaster)
• Length: 53 m (174 ft)
• Wingspan: 51.75 m (169.8 ft)
• Height: 16.8 m (55.1 ft)
• Wing area: 353 m² (3,800 ft²)
• Engines: 4x Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofans, 180 kN each
• Payload: 170,900 lb (77 tons)
Performance:
• Cruise speed: Mach 0.76 (450 knots, 830 km/h)
• Range: 2,420 nm (4,482 km)
• Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,716 m)
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