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My compliments to SP Guide Publications for informative and credible reportage on contemporary aerospace issues over the past six decades.

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India's first C-17 Globemaster-III takes shape
Report / Photos: SP's Special Correspondent
Location: Long Beach, California


Ambassador N. Parthasarathi addressing the audience
 

Guests and dignitaries at the 'major join' ceremony of
India's first C-17
 

Indian Air Attache, Air Commodore Sanjay Nimesh, Indian
Embassy, Washington at the Boeing facility
 
Indian Air Attache, Air Commodore Sanjay Nimesh, Indian
Embassy, Washington at the Boeing facility
 

August 03, 2012: The fruit of India's single largest defence contract yet with Washington took shape this week at Boeing's big military aircraft facility in Long Beach, California, with tail section, fuselage and forward section of the first C-17 Globemaster III for the Indian Air Force ceremonially riveted together in the presence of senior diplomats, politicians and Boeing brass.

Ambassador N. Parthasarathi, Consul General of India, San Francisco said, “This momentous occasion, where we see India’s first C-17 take shape, further strengthens our growing relationship. As India strives to become a global reservoir of highly skilled and technologically sophisticated manpower, we will witness an escalating technology transfer, collaborative joint research and development, and co-production of defence items between our two countries."

Twenty IAF pilots and 10 logisticians/loadmasters are currently at the United States Air Force (USAF) base in Altus, Oklahoma, being trained on C-17 flying and loading operations. The first of ten Indian C-17s, contracted at a cost of just over $4.1-billion—making it the largest defence contract between the two countries so far—is on schedule for delivery to India in June 2013. The ten aircraft are to be based at the Hindon Air Force station from which operations are slated to enter full tempo by the end of 2014 when deliveries are completed.

While it is well known that the C-17 foreign military sales (FMS) does not contain an options clause, former IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik revealed last year that the service was considering at least six more aircraft. A decision on such a follow on order, however, will only be taken once deliveries begin next year. However, there is a catch. The Indian Government will need to take a decision no later than late next year, since Boeing, having completed deliveries to the USAF by that time, and assuming there are no fresh international orders, will begin to wind down the facility.

 


Indian Air Attache, Air Commodore Sanjay Nimesh
at the ceremonial rivet ceremony

The first IAF C-17 comes together at major join
ceremony
   

Landing gear of India's first C-17

The first IAF C-17 comes together at major join
ceremony
   

The first IAF C-17 comes together at major join
ceremony

The first IAF C-17 comes together at major join
ceremony