The government of India on Monday announced the purchase of 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III’s for approximately $4.1 billion.
US Air Force C-17.
India’s Cabinet Committee on Security held a meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and approved the purchase, equipping the Indian Air Force with the heavy aircraft, a senior defense ministry officer told the Times of India.
The deal, which will be completed through the government-to-government Foreign Military Sales, marks the biggest between India and the U.S. The aircraft are expected to begin being delivered 2 years after the contract signing.
Boeing’s four-engine C-17 are large heavy-lift military transport aircraft, normally used to transport troops and cargo over long distances and are capable of carrying up to 75 tons.
