Indian C-17 Deal with U.S. Advances

[buglerbilly]

Apr 26, 2010



By Neelam Mathews mathews.neelam@gmail.com
New Delhi

Moving a step toward a U.S. foreign military sale, a prerequisite to negotiations, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency formally notified Congress on April 22 of the possible foreign military sale (FMS) of 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

India’s Defense Ministry had sent a letter of request to the U.S. government for the C-17s via the FMS process (Aerospace DAILY, Jan 11). Boeing’s Jan. 8 statement followed immediately after an United Arab Emirates announcement of plans to purchase six C-17s.

While the official notification to Congress lists the potential value for the deal as $5.8 billion, the actual cost will be based on Indian Air Force requirements. The amount represents the highest possible estimate for the sale to include all potential services offered.

While the final figure has yet to be negotiated, the Indian sale may also include training for air crew and maintenance personnel and training equipment, spares, test and ground-support equipment, technical assistance, engineering services, specific modifications and logistical and technical support.

In November 2009, the U.S. Air Force flew the C-17 in Agra in a joint-lift exercise.

India’s current transport fleet has 40 Russian-made IL-76s and more than 100 Soviet-built AN-32 cargo aircraft. Six Lockheed Martin C-130Js are on order to be delivered in 2011. The AN-32s are currently undergoing midlife refurbishment under a joint program with Russia’s Irkut.

With a payload capacity of around 160,000 lb. the C-17 can take off from a 7,600-ft. airfield, fly 2,400 nm, and land on a small, austere airfield in 3,000 ft. or less. It 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.

“The potential sale of C-17s strengthens the growing partnership between our two countries, and demonstrates our enduring commitment to sharing the world’s best technology with India,” U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer says about the potential deal. “India is a leading partner in our efforts to promote regional stability, peace and economic growth.”

The U.S.-India defense partnership is moving speedily with New Delhi having selected Boeing to provide eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy.

The C-17, the workhorse of the U.S. Air Force transport fleet, has proven highly reliable in the harsh environments of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Indian Air Force will use the C-17s to modernize India’s armed forces with new cargo capabilities.

C-17 photo: USAF

[Weasel]

...And Gates wants to kill the C-17, why again?...

cheers

w

[buglerbilly]

...And Gates wants to kill the C-17, why again?...

cheers

w

Your guess is as good as mine.............this plane will sell and sell over the next 10 years, longer if they re-engine it with something more frugal and modern..........and the USAF will be back at some point in time if not sooner.

[Gubler, A.]

I guess USAF doesn't want to bear the costs of keeping a production line open for sales to others. Boeing of course could keep the line open to meet the high level of demand but they will keep crying tough so as to use leverage on the Hill to keep the USAF buying aircraft it doesn't want to. Of course USAF needs every one of those C-17s they don't want to buy!

[Weasel]

I guess USAF doesn't want to bear the costs of keeping a production line open for sales to others. Boeing of course could keep the line open to meet the high level of demand but they will keep crying tough so as to use leverage on the Hill to keep the USAF buying aircraft it doesn't want to. Of course USAF needs every one of those C-17s they don't want to buy! Yeh, BUT....lol

I haven't even looked at the issue. "looked" meaning done analysis.

But from an opinion based point of view, it seems odd to me; In fact, curious as to why "they" want to shut down the line when "they" need another run of C-17s before yesterday.

Even with the C5 Galaxy refurbs coming on line (all of them). The DoD is still deficient in lifting muscle. So why shut down the only line producing a modern airlifter capable of giving you the lift capacity required???

cheers

w

[buglerbilly]

Indian Air Force to begin C-17 trials by month-end

Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, June 10, 2010

First Published: 19:59 IST(10/6/2010)
Last Updated: 20:01 IST(10/6/2010)

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to begin trials of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift transport aircraft, of which it intends to purchase 10, by the end of the month, an official said.

"It should happen in the next two weeks," the official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

"The trials should last about 10 days," he added of the evaluation process of the aircraft, which has a carrying capacity of 75 tonnes.

The trials are likely to be conducted in the same manner as the IAF is evaluating the six combat jets in contention for an order for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft.

This means the C-17, which can take off from unprepared airstrips as short as 3,000 metres, will be put through its paces in the icy heights of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, the deserts of Rajasthan and the humid conditions of south India.

Price negotiations will begin after the trials and the first aircraft should arrive within two years of Boeing receiving a letter of acceptance, the official said.

Asked how long it would take for IAF pilots to convert to the C-17, the official said: "Pilots who have done a reasonable number of hours on the Il-76 (the IAF's current heavy lift aircraft) can convert to command status in a few months."

The US Congress has cleared the sale of the C-17 to India. The Obama administration had notified Congress April 23 of the potential sale of 10 aircraft and sought objections or approval.

The aircraft are being sold to India under the US government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, with the maximum package value of $5.8 billion. This includes the 3.8 percent administrative fee the government charges to ensure timely delivery and guarantee the supplies.

The actual cost of the C-17 aircraft would be less as India would not be buying all the options that are offered with it and the 3.8 percent fee would be payable only on the actual amount of the deal. In some countries, the administrative fee ranges up to 18 percent.

The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, had said last year that it was looking for ten C-17s, described in its parlance as VHTAC, or Very Heavy Transport Aircraft, as a replacement for its ageing fleet of Soviet vintage IL-76 transports. He also spoke of a repeat order for 10 more aircraft.

The US Air Force has ordered 223 C-17s, of which 198 have been delivered. The aircraft, which first flew in 1991, was inducted in 1995.

Boeing plans to continue production for about five years to ensure deliveries to the US Air Force (24), the United Arab Emirates (six), Britain (seven) and India (10).

[buglerbilly]

UPDATE 1-Boeing says more India C-17 orders possible

Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:16am EDT

* Military aircraft sales seen growing over 5-10 years

* India decision on fighters seen in early 2011

(Adds details, additional quotes)

FARNBOROUGH, England, July 19 (Reuters) - India could buy 10 to 12 more C-17 transport planes from Boeing Co (BA.N) beyond the 10 planes already planned, Christopher Chadwick, president of Boeing military aircraft told Reuters on Monday.

Boeing, the No. 2 U.S. defense contractor, is forecasting strong demand for the C-17 planes, which have been used heavily during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Chadwick said at the Farnborough Airshow outside London.

Boeing had seen interest from multiple buyers in the Middle East and the Asian-Pacific region, and NATO countries could also buy more of the cargo planes in coming years, Chadwick said in an interview.

On Sunday, Boeing officials said the company could sell 20 more C-17 transport planes to foreign buyers over the next five to ten years, in addition to the 10 already planned for India.

Chadwick said the number could rise even higher, given expectations that India could eventually more than double its planned purchase of 10 C-17s.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency in April announced approval of the sale of the 10 transport planes and related equipment, putting its value at up to $5.8 billion.

Chadwick said Boeing expected a slight increase in military aircraft revenues internationally over the next five to 10 years, bolstered by sales of transport planes and fighter aircraft.

Chadwick said delays in international fighter competitions should not jeopardize Boeing's forecast for moderate growth in defense revenues in 2011, given strong domestic sales.

Boeing is negotiating a third multi-year procurement deal for its F/A-18 fighters with the U.S. government, which would make that production line "rock solid out through the middle of the decade," he said.

India was also expected to pick a winner in its competition for 126 new fighter jets early next year, he said, while Japan is due to issue a request for proposals later this year.

Brazil's fighter competition was also nearing an end, and a final decision could come next year, he said.

Boeing had a good track record in winning international competitions, Chadwick said, but the company's revenue forecast factored in possible wins by other contractors as well.

"There are so many competitions in play right now," he said. "We never count on all of it." (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Sharon Lindores)