Keen on replacing its ageing Russian IL-76 transport aircraft fleet, the Indian Air Force has shortlisted US major Boeing's C-17 Globemaster III for its heavylift aircraft.
"The C-17s have been shortlisted after IAF carried out a thorough study on its capability to take-off and land on short runways with heavy loads," IAF sources said here today. IAF would place an initial order for 10 of the C-17s through the US government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, and may later go in for a follow-on order, sources said.
"The Defence Ministry is at present considering the proposal. If accepted, the aircraft should be inducted in about three years after signing of the contract," sources added. In fact, most of IAF's transport aircraft were acquired in the 1980s and the air force is keen to acquire new generation aircraft to replace and augment its fleet.
There are about 100 mediumlift AN-32 aircraft and around 20 heavylift IL-76 aircraft in the IAF fleet at present. An IL-76 has a six-member crew and can carry a cargo of 45 tonnes. But the C-17, which is powered by four Pratt & Whitney F-117-PW-100 turbofan engines, can carry 70 tonnes and has only a three-member crew, industry sources said.
(Originally reported by Press Trust of India)
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