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100-634: The Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan is a procurement and development plan of the Indian Army . The programme was drafted in 1999 in the aftermath of the Kargil war , emboldened by the success of the 155 mm Bofors guns in its inventory. The programme was slated to replace the weapons of 169 artillery regiments with modern weapon systems, predominantly of 155mm calibre. The procurement involves direct import, manufacture under license, as well as inhouse development of artillery weapon systems. Under

200-630: A C-17 has been used to transport the President himself, using the Air Force One call sign while doing so. In 2015, as part of a missile-defense test at Wake Island , simulated medium-range ballistic missiles were launched from C-17s against THAAD missile defense systems and the USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) . In early 2020, palletized munitions–"Combat Expendable Platforms"– were tested from C-17s and C-130Js with results

300-400: A House of Representatives subcommittee on air and land forces a need to extend production to another 15 aircraft to increase the total to 205, and that C-17 production may continue to satisfy airlift requirements. The USAF finally decided to cap its C-17 fleet at 223 aircraft; the final delivery was on 12 September 2013. In 2010, Boeing reduced the production rate to 10 aircraft per year from

400-478: A US$ 80.7M contract to join the global 'virtual fleet' C-17 sustainment program; RAAF C-17s receive the same upgrades as the USAF's fleet. The RAAF took delivery of its first C-17 in a ceremony at Boeing's plant at Long Beach, California on 28 November 2006. Several days later the aircraft flew from Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii to Defence Establishment Fairbairn , Canberra, arriving on 4 December 2006. The aircraft

500-555: A charge of under $ 100 million and cut 3,000 positions associated with the C-17 program, and also suggested that Airbus' lower cost A400M Atlas took international sales away from the C-17. The C-17 Globemaster III is a strategic transport aircraft, able to airlift cargo close to a battle area. The size and weight of U.S. mechanized firepower and equipment have grown in recent decades from increased air mobility requirements, particularly for large or heavy non-palletized outsize cargo . It has

600-403: A delay of four years. During this time contracts were awarded for preliminary design work and for the completion of engine certification. In December 1985, a full-scale development contract was awarded, under Program Manager Bob Clepper. At this time, first flight was planned for 1990. The USAF had formed a requirement for 210 aircraft. Development problems and limited funding caused delays in

700-482: A high of 16 per year, due to dwindling orders and to extend the production line's life while additional orders were sought. The workforce was reduced by about 1,100 through 2012, a second shift at the Long Beach plant was also eliminated. By April 2011, 230 production C-17s had been delivered, including 210 to the USAF. The C-17 prototype "T-1" was retired in 2012 after use as a testbed by the USAF. In January 2010,

800-429: A higher probability to damage the aircraft). The thrust reversers can be used to move the aircraft backwards and reverse direction on narrow taxiways using a three- (or more) point turn . The plane is designed for 20 man-hours of maintenance per flight hour, and a 74% mission availability rate. The first production C-17 was delivered to Charleston Air Force Base , South Carolina, on 14 July 1993. The first C-17 unit,

900-405: A length of 174 feet (53 m) and a wingspan of 169 feet 10 inches (51.77 m), and uses about 8% composite materials, mostly in secondary structure and control surfaces. The aircraft features an anhedral wing configuration, providing pitch and roll stability to the aircraft. The aircraft's stability is furthered by its T-tail design, raising the center of pressure even higher above

1000-485: A lower LCN, but the USAF classifies both in the same broad load classification group. When considering runway dimensions and load ratings, the C-17's worldwide runway advantage over the C-5 shrank from 6,400 to 911 airfields. The report also stated "current military doctrine that does not reflect the use of small, austere airfields", thus the C-17's short field capability was not considered. A January 1995 GAO report stated that

1100-624: A maximum range of more than 38 km, have a maximum weight of 30 tonnes and should be able to fire all existing 155 mm rounds in the Indian Army's inventory. The trials of contenders of MGS tenders are set to commence in 2025. Potential Competitors As part of the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, the Indian Army is inducting new wheeled self-propelled guns , which are planned for acquisition between 2025 and 2027. The wheeled self-propelled guns

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1200-464: A new aircraft based on the YC-15. Boeing bid an enlarged three-engine version of its AMST YC-14. Lockheed submitted both a C-5-based design and an enlarged C-141 design. On 28 August 1981, McDonnell Douglas was chosen to build its proposal, then designated C-17 . Compared to the YC-15, the new aircraft differed in having swept wings, increased size, and more powerful engines. This would allow it to perform

1300-504: A new record for the type which was previously over 670 people during a 2013 typhoon evacuation from Tacloban , Philippines . Boeing marketed the C-17 to many European nations including Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. The Royal Air Force (RAF) has established an aim of having interoperability and some weapons and capabilities commonality with the USAF. The 1998 Strategic Defence Review identified

1400-751: A requirement for a strategic airlifter. The Short-Term Strategic Airlift competition commenced in September of that year, but the tender was canceled in August 1999 with some bids identified by ministers as too expensive, including the Boeing/ BAe C-17 bid, and others unsuitable. The project continued, with the C-17 seen as the favorite. In the light of Airbus A400M delays, the UK Secretary of State for Defence , Geoff Hoon , announced in May 2000 that

1500-581: A sealed center wing bay as a fuel tank. Boeing informally calls these aircraft the C-17 ER . The C-17's cruise speed is about 450 knots (830 km/h) (Mach 0.74). It is designed to airdrop 102 paratroopers and their equipment. According to Boeing the maximum unloaded range is 6,230 nautical miles (11,540 km). The C-17 is designed to operate from runways as short as 3,500 ft (1,067 m) and as narrow as 90 ft (27 m). The C-17 can also operate from unpaved, unimproved runways (although with

1600-412: A series of design issues, causing the company to incur a loss of nearly US$ 1.5 billion on the program's development phase. On 15 September 1991, roughly one year behind schedule, the first C-17 performed its maiden flight . The C-17 formally entered USAF service on 17 January 1995. Boeing , which merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, continued to manufacture the C-17 for almost two decades. The final C-17

1700-461: A sixth C-17 through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program; it was ordered in June 2012, and was delivered on 1 November 2012. In August 2014, Defence Minister David Johnston announced the intention to purchase one or two additional C-17s. On 3 October 2014, Johnston announced the government's approval to buy two C-17s at a total cost of US$ 770M ( A$ 1bn ). The United States Congress approved

1800-409: A statutory " Single Source " scheme applicable to situations where there is no competition between suppliers. The US Department of Defense has three principal decision-making support systems associated with military acquisition: The Center for Strategic & International Studies releases a report every year on defense acquisition trends. Because of the size and scope of such a bureaucracy,

1900-487: Is 88 feet (27 m) long by 18 feet (5.5 m) wide by 12 feet 4 inches (3.76 m) high. The cargo floor has rollers for palletized cargo but it can be flipped to provide a flat floor suitable for vehicles and other rolling stock. Cargo is loaded through a large aft ramp that accommodates rolling stock , such as a 69-ton (63-metric ton) M1 Abrams main battle tank , other armored vehicles, trucks, and trailers, along with palletized cargo . Maximum payload of

2000-497: Is a complex blend of science , management , and engineering disciplines within the context of a nation 's law and regulation framework to produce military material and technology . This complexity evolved from the increasing complexity of weapon systems starting in the 20th century. For example, the Manhattan Project involved more than 130,000 people at an estimated cost of nearly $ 24 billion in 2008 dollars. In

2100-624: Is included in the Indian Army's procument of 2800 to 3000 155mm.52 calibre mounted guns and howitzers. In September 2015, the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) selected Hanwha Techwin and Larsen & Toubro as preferred bidder to supply 100 K9 Vajra-T to the Indian Army after K9 outperformed 2S19 Msta-S and passed two-year trial. On 6 July 2016, India agreed in purchasing 100 K9 Vajra-T for $ 750 million. On 29 March 2017, The Government of India approved budget of $ 646 million for purchasing 100 K9 Vajra-T. A formal contract of $ 310 million

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2200-520: Is operational near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). All Dhanush units are expected to be delivered by 2026. A recent manufacturing disruption occurred due to the untimely procurement of a spare part needed for a sub-assembly. The production of the Dhanush has restarted following a pause due to a shortage of spare parts. In FY2023–2024, Advance Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) intends to supply

2300-573: The 17th Airlift Squadron , became operationally ready on 17 January 1995. It has broken 22 records for oversized payloads. The C-17 was awarded U.S. aviation's most prestigious award, the Collier Trophy , in 1994. A Congressional report on operations in Kosovo and Operation Allied Force noted "One of the great success stories...was the performance of the Air Force's C-17A" It flew half of

2400-592: The 2015 Sousse attacks from Tunisia. On 13 September 2022, C-17 ZZ177 carried the body of Queen Elizabeth II from Edinburgh Airport to RAF Northolt in London. She had been lying in state at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) began investigating an acquisition of strategic transport aircraft in 2005. In late 2005, the then Minister for Defence Robert Hill stated that such aircraft were being considered due to

2500-765: The 512th Airlift Wing , at Dover Air Force Base , Delaware, supplementing the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. The Mississippi Air National Guard's 172 Airlift Group received their first of eight C-17s in 2006. In 2011, the New York Air National Guard 's 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base transitioned from the C-5 to the C-17. C-17s delivered military supplies during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq as well as humanitarian aid in

2600-599: The Australian-led military deployment to East Timor in 2006. In 2006, USAF C-17s flew 15 Canadian Leopard C2 tanks from Kyrgyzstan into Kandahar in support of NATO's Afghanistan mission. In 2013, five USAF C-17s supported French operations in Mali , operating with other nations' C-17s (RAF, NATO and RCAF deployed a single C-17 each). Flight crews have nicknamed the aircraft " the Moose ", because during ground refueling,

2700-772: The C-33 ), the Lockheed Martin C-5D , and the McDonnell Douglas C-17. The NDAA program was initiated after the C-17 program was temporarily capped at a 40-aircraft buy (in December 1993) pending further evaluation of C-17 cost and performance and an assessment of commercial airlift alternatives. In April 1994, the program remained over budget and did not meet weight, fuel burn, payload, and range specifications. It failed several key criteria during airworthiness evaluation tests. Problems were found with

2800-688: The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II . The C-17 is based upon the YC-15 , a smaller prototype airlifter designed during the 1970s. It was designed to replace the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter , and also fulfill some of the duties of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy . Compared to the YC-15, the redesigned airlifter differed in being larger, having swept wings, and more powerful engines. Development was protracted by

2900-646: The German Air Force in leasing Antonovs and Ilyushins for many requirements, including deploying the Disaster Assistance Response Team to tsunami-stricken Sri Lanka in 2005; the Canadian Forces had relied entirely on leased An-124 Ruslan for a Canadian Army deployment to Haiti in 2003. A combination of leased Ruslans , Ilyushins and USAF C-17s was also used to move heavy equipment to Afghanistan. In 2002,

3000-768: The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II in 2001, included the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Turkey, Israel and Japan. Major activities related to military acquisition are: EU member states' procurement of arms, munitions, war material and related works and services acquired for defence purposes and procurement of sensitive supplies, works and services required for security purposes are subject to EU Directive 2009/81/EC on Defence and Sensitive Security Procurement. The purpose of

3100-571: The United Arab Emirates , Kuwait , and the Europe-based multilateral organization Heavy Airlift Wing . The type played a key logistical role during both Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, as well as in providing humanitarian aid in the aftermath of various natural disasters, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake , the 2011 Sindh floods and the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake . In

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3200-534: The center of mass . Drag is also lowered, as the horizontal stabilizer is far removed from the vortices generated by the two wings of the aircraft. [1] The C-17 is powered by four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines, which are based on the commercial Pratt & Whitney PW2040 used on the Boeing 757 . Each engine is rated at 40,400 lbf (180 kN) of thrust. The engine's thrust reversers direct engine exhaust air upwards and forward, reducing

3300-485: The 1,900 km (1,200 mi) JASSM-XR was expected to deliver large inventories in 2024. On 15 August 2021, USAF C-17 02-1109 from the 62nd Airlift Wing and 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord departed Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul , Afghanistan , while crowds of people trying to escape the 2021 Taliban offensive ran alongside the aircraft. The C-17 lifted off with people holding on to

3400-509: The 1970s, the U.S. Air Force began looking for a replacement for its Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical cargo aircraft. The Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) competition was held, with Boeing proposing the YC-14 , and McDonnell Douglas proposing the YC-15 . Though both entrants exceeded specified requirements, the AMST competition was canceled before a winner was selected. The USAF started

3500-556: The 205 planned. However, on 12 June 2009, the House Armed Services Air and Land Forces Subcommittee added a further 17 C-17s. Debate arose over follow-on C-17 orders, the USAF requested line shutdown while Congress called for further production. In FY 2007, the USAF requested $ 1.6 billion (~$ 2.27 billion in 2023) in response to "excessive combat use" on the C-17 fleet. In 2008, USAF General Arthur Lichte , Commander of Air Mobility Command , indicated before

3600-552: The A400M may suffer further delays, the MoD announced in 2006 that it planned to acquire three more C-17s, for a total of eight, with delivery in 2009–2010. On 3 December 2007, the MoD announced a contract for a sixth C-17, which was received on 11 June 2008. On 18 December 2009, Boeing confirmed that the RAF had ordered a seventh C-17, which was delivered on 16 November 2010. The UK announced

3700-653: The Artillery Profile 2027 (acquisition plan), which was drafted in year 2008. In 2023, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India reported that only 8% of the howitzers planned for purchase by the Ministry of Defence had been received, and there is no visibility on the outcome of the remaining 77% of the proposed procurement. The Indian Army has ordered 114 Dhanush howitzers of which 18 units has been delivered. The First regiment ( 93 Field Regiment )

3800-476: The C-17 flew its first Antarctic airdrop mission, delivering 70,000 pounds of supplies. Further air drops occurred during subsequent years. A C-17 accompanies the President of the United States on his visits to both domestic and foreign arrangements, consultations, and meetings. It is used to transport the Presidential Limousine , Marine One , and security detachments. On several occasions,

3900-435: The C-17 has not been given an official service name and designation (for example, C-130J referred to as Hercules C4 or C5), but is referred to simply as the C-17 or "C-17A Globemaster". Although it was to be a fallback for the A400M, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 21 July 2004 that they had elected to buy their four C-17s at the end of the lease, though the A400M appeared to be closer to production. The C-17 gives

4000-451: The C-17 is 170,900 pounds (77,500 kg; 85.5 short tons), and its maximum takeoff weight is 585,000 pounds (265,000 kg). With a payload of 160,000 pounds (73,000 kg) and an initial cruise altitude of 28,000 ft (8,500 m), the C-17 has an unrefueled range of about 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 kilometres) on the first 71 aircraft, and 2,800 nautical miles (5,200 kilometres) on all subsequent extended-range models that include

4100-566: The C-17 program in March 1997. By September 1995, most of the prior issues were reportedly resolved and the C-17 was meeting all performance and reliability targets. The first USAF squadron was declared operational in January 1995. In 1996, the DoD ordered another 80 aircraft for a total of 120. In 1997, McDonnell Douglas merged with domestic competitor Boeing. In April 1999, Boeing offered to cut

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4200-484: The C-17 wing in October 1992 resulted in its failure at 128% of design limit load, below the 150% requirement. Both wings buckled rear to the front and failures occurred in stringers, spars, and ribs. Some $ 100 million was spent to redesign the wing structure; the wing failed at 145% during a second test in September 1993. A review of the test data, however, showed that the wing was not loaded correctly and did indeed meet

4300-457: The C-17's unit price if the USAF bought 60 more; in August 2002, the order was increased to 180 aircraft. In 2007, 190 C-17s were on order for the USAF. On 6 February 2009, Boeing was awarded a $ 2.95 billion contract for 15 additional C-17s, increasing the total USAF fleet to 205 and extending production from August 2009 to August 2010. On 6 April 2009, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that there would be no more C-17s ordered beyond

4400-561: The C-X program in November 1979 to develop a larger AMST with longer range to augment its strategic airlift. By 1980, the USAF had a large fleet of aging C-141 Starlifter cargo aircraft. Compounding matters, increased strategic airlift capabilities was needed to fulfill its rapid-deployment airlift requirements. The USAF set mission requirements and released a request for proposals (RFP) for C-X in October 1980. McDonnell Douglas chose to develop

4500-705: The Canadian Forces Future Strategic Airlifter Project began to study alternatives, including long-term leasing arrangements. On 5 July 2006, the Canadian government issued a notice of intent to negotiate with Boeing to procure four airlifters for the Canadian Forces Air Command ( Royal Canadian Air Force after August 2011). On 1 February 2007, Canada awarded a contract for four C-17s with delivery beginning in August 2007. Like Australia, Canada

4600-399: The Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, the army plans to procure approximately 3000–3600 weapons, at a cost of over with an outlay of over Rs 20,000 crore (approximately US$ 3 billion). This includes the initial purchase of 1580 towed, 814 mounted, 180 self-propelled wheeled, 100 self-propelled tracked, and 145 ultra-light 155 mm/52 calibre artillery guns. The FARP was further amplified by

4700-610: The Government of Canada. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III The McDonnell Douglas / Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) between the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas . The C-17 carries forward the name of two previous piston-engined military cargo aircraft, the Douglas C-74 Globemaster and

4800-607: The IAF reportedly finalized plans to buy six more C-17s in its five-year plan for 2017–2022. It provides strategic airlift, the ability to deploy special forces, and to operate in diverse terrain – from Himalayan air bases in North India at 13,000 ft (4,000 m) to Indian Ocean bases in South India. The C-17s are based at Hindon Air Force Station and are operated by No. 81 Squadron IAF Skylords . The first C-17

4900-451: The Indian Army had issued a tender for the procurement of first batch of 400 units under Indian IDDM category. The tender has a worth of ₹ 6,500 crore (US$ 780 million) and includes the purchase of towing vehicles. Indian firms like Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd , Larsen & Toubro , Adani Defence & Aerospace and AWEIL. The trials of contenders of TGS tenders are set to commence in 2025. The gun system are mandated to have

5000-598: The Indian Army with 26 brand-new howitzers. With this, the Indian Army will have 50 Dhanush weapons overall. The Army received the first set of 6 guns in April 2019. Accidents such as barrel bursts and muzzle brake strikes marred the early years of manufacturing. At that point, the then Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) was in charge of the Gun Carriage Factory in Jabalpur . New terms and conditions were signed with

5100-541: The Indian Ministry of Defence. Discussions began in 2023 between India and the United States to develop an extended range of the M777 howitzer called as the M777 (ER), with India planning to upgrade all its M777 guns to this standard. Military acquisition Military acquisition has a long history spanning from ancient times (e.g., blacksmithing , shipbuilding ) to modern times. Modern military acquisition

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5200-555: The Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) and Value Proposition (VP), which are offsets applied to the selected defense procurements. ISED may apply offsets to DND and Coast Guard procurements of $ 20M (CAD, or about $ 15M USD) or greater. All Canadian defence procurement falls under the auspices of the Treasury Board of Canada , which establishes national procurement and contracting standards and regulations on behalf of

5300-449: The Long Beach plant. Production of spare components was to continue until at least 2017. The C-17 is projected to be in service for several decades. In February 2014, Boeing was engaged in sales talks with "five or six" countries for the remaining 15 C-17s; thus Boeing decided to build ten aircraft without confirmed buyers in anticipation of future purchases. In May 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing expected to book

5400-437: The MoD is getting ready to place repeat order of 200 K9 Vajra-T worth ₹ 9,600 crore . The new batch will equip enhanced engine suited for high altitude operation, and is expected to complete delivery by 2028. The proposal for first 100 units was cleared on 27 September 2022. In February 2023, Hanwha received an order for 100 vehicles. Additional order for 100 units are planned. In May 2024, a report suggested, another 100 units of

5500-624: The Non-Developmental Airlift Aircraft program was established to procure a transport aircraft using commercial practices as a possible alternative or supplement to the C-17. Initial material solutions considered included: buy a modified Boeing 747-400 NDAA, restart the C-5 production line, extend the C-141 service life, and continue C-17 production. The field eventually narrowed to: the Boeing 747-400 (provisionally named

5600-508: The RAF could not use them for para-drop, airdrop, rough field, low-level operations and air to air refueling. The first C-17 was delivered to the RAF at Boeing's Long Beach facility on 17 May 2001 and flown to RAF Brize Norton by a crew from No. 99 Squadron . The RAF's fourth C-17 was delivered on 24 August 2001. The RAF aircraft were some of the first to take advantage of the new center wing fuel tank found in Block 13 aircraft. In RAF service,

5700-447: The RAF strategic capabilities that it would not wish to lose, for example a maximum payload of 169,500 pounds (76,900 kg) compared to the A400M's 82,000 pounds (37,000 kg). The C-17's capabilities allow the RAF to use it as an airborne hospital for medical evacuation missions. Another C-17 was ordered in August 2006, and delivered on 22 February 2008. The four leased C-17s were to be purchased later in 2008. Due to fears that

5800-399: The RAF would lease four C-17s at an annual cost of £ 100 million from Boeing for an initial seven years with an optional two-year extension. The RAF had the option to buy or return the aircraft to Boeing. The UK committed to upgrading its C-17s in line with the USAF so that if they were returned, the USAF could adopt them. The lease agreement restricted the C-17's operational use, meaning that

5900-464: The U.S. On 14 July 2009, Boeing delivered the first C-17 for the SAC program with the second and third C-17s delivered in September and October 2009. SAC members are Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and the U.S. as of 2024. The SAC C-17s are based at Pápa Air Base , Hungary. The Heavy Airlift Wing is hosted by Hungary, which acts as

6000-478: The U.S. government to acquire a fifth C-17 due to an increased demand for humanitarian and disaster relief missions. The aircraft was delivered to the RAAF on 14 September 2011. On 23 September 2011, Australian Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced that the government was seeking information from the U.S. about the price and delivery schedule for a sixth Globemaster. In November 2011, Australia requested

6100-677: The US Department of Defense instituted an extensive training program, known as the Defense Acquisition University . In Canada, military acquisition falls under three separate government departments: the Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC); the Department of National Defence (DND); Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). ISED is responsible for defining and administering

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6200-628: The US. On 15 December 2015, the Indian Ministry of Defence said it was keen on placing a follow-up order of 500 more M777 guns. On 26 June 2016, it was announced that 145 guns will be purchased by India for US$ 750 million. The Indian government completed the deal on 30 November 2016. Under the agreement, BAE Systems was to supply 25 ready-built howitzers, while 120 guns were to be manufactured in India by Mahindra Defence Systems Limited. A total of 7 artillery regiments are planned, each of 18 guns. The first regiment

6300-543: The USAF announced the end of Boeing's performance-based logistics contracts to maintain the type. On 19 June 2012, the USAF ordered its 224th and final C-17 to replace one that crashed in Alaska in July 2010. In September 2013, Boeing announced that C-17 production was starting to close down. In October 2014, the main wing spar of the 279th and last aircraft was completed; this C-17 was delivered in 2015, after which Boeing closed

6400-484: The USAF considered positive. In 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory further developed the concept into tests of the Rapid Dragon system, which transforms the C-17 into a lethal cruise missile arsenal ship capable of mass launching 45 JASSM-ER with 500 kg warheads from a standoff distance of 925 km (575 mi). Anticipated improvements included support for JDAM-ER , mine laying, drone dispersal as well as improved standoff range when full production of

6500-412: The USAF originally planned to order 210 C-17s at a cost of $ 41.8 billion, and that the 120 aircraft on order were to cost $ 39.5 billion based on a 1992 estimate. In March 1994, the U.S. Army decided it did not need the 60,000 lb (27,000 kg) low-altitude parachute-extraction system delivery with the C-17 and that the C-130's 42,000 lb (19,000 kg) capability was sufficient. C-17 testing

6600-483: The USAF production run and are identical to American C-17s even in paint scheme, the only difference being the national markings , allowing deliveries to commence within nine months of commitment to the program. On 2 March 2006, the Australian government announced the purchase of three aircraft and one option with an entry into service date of 2006. In July 2006, Boeing was awarded a fixed price contract to deliver four C-17s for US$ 780M ( A$ 1bn ). Australia also signed

6700-627: The aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake , and the 2011 Sindh floods , delivering thousands of food rations, tons of medical and emergency supplies. On 26 March 2003, 15 USAF C-17s participated in the biggest combat airdrop since the United States invasion of Panama in December 1989: the night-time airdrop of 1,000 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade occurred over Bashur, Iraq. These airdrops were followed by C-17s ferrying M1 Abrams, M2 Bradleys, M113s and artillery. USAF C-17s have also assisted allies in their airlift needs, such as Canadian vehicles to Afghanistan in 2003 and Australian forces for

6800-447: The along India's borders with both China and Pakistan . Contract to be signed by FY 2025 as of September 2024. The Army also has plans to procure 1,200 155 mm 52-calibre Towed Gun Systems (TGS) in phased manner which will become the mainstay of the Indian Army in the future. The initial order clearance (Acceptance of Necessity) for 400 units was granted on 30 November 2023 by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). On 16 August 2024,

6900-450: The chances of foreign object damage by ingestion of runway debris, and providing enough reverse thrust to back up the aircraft while taxiing. The thrust reversers can also be used in flight at idle-reverse for added drag in maximum-rate descents. In vortex surfing tests performed by two C-17s, up to 10% fuel savings were reported. For cargo operations the C-17 requires a crew of three: pilot, copilot, and loadmaster. The cargo compartment

7000-419: The directive is to balance the need for transparency and openness in defence markets within the European single market with the need to protect individual countries' security interests. The Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, which were derived from EU law, apply to defence procurement in the UK, along with Parts 1 and 2 of the Defence Reform Act 2014 . The Defence Reform Act established

7100-412: The first time at CFS Alert , the world's most northerly airport. Canadian Globemasters have been deployed in support of numerous missions worldwide, including Operation Hestia after the earthquake in Haiti, providing airlift as part of Operation Mobile and support to the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. After Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013, Canadian C-17s established an air bridge between

7200-658: The flag nation. The aircraft are crewed in similar fashion as the NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft. The C-17 flight crew are multi-national, but each mission is assigned to an individual member nation based on the SAC's annual flight hour share agreement. The NATO Airlift Management Programme Office (NAMPO) provides management and support for the Heavy Airlift Wing. NAMPO is a part of the NATO Support Agency (NSPA). In September 2014, Boeing stated that

7300-706: The following specifications: Potential Competitors The Indian Army has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) through the Army will procure 200 units of 105 mm L/37 mounted howitzers. In March 2024, the Garuda 106 V2 of KSSL was airdropped by a C-17 Globemaster of the Indian Air Force , hinting that the platform is under trials. Potential Competitors The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to procure 814 units of 155 mm L/52 calibre Mounted Guns. The guns should have

7400-415: The gun would be cleared after the formation of a new government after the 2024 Indian general election . After three years of searching and negotiations, India ordered M777 155 mm L/39 ultra-light howitzer from USA in September 2013. The Indian Army first announced plans to acquire 145 guns for ₹ 30 billion (US$ 359 million), but purchase plans were overtaken when the procurement process

7500-771: The late 1980s. Criticisms were made of the developing aircraft and questions were raised about more cost-effective alternatives during this time. In April 1990, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney reduced the order from 210 to 120 aircraft. The maiden flight of the C-17 took place on 15 September 1991 from the McDonnell Douglas's plant in Long Beach, California , about a year behind schedule. The first aircraft (T-1) and five more production models (P1-P5) participated in extensive flight testing and evaluation at Edwards Air Force Base . Two complete airframes were built for static and repeated load testing. A static test of

7600-513: The limited availability of strategic airlift aircraft from partner nations and air freight companies. The C-17 was considered to be favored over the A400M as it was a "proven aircraft" and in production. One major RAAF requirement was the ability to airlift the Army's M1 Abrams tanks; another requirement was immediate delivery. Though unstated, commonality with the USAF and the RAF was also considered advantageous. RAAF aircraft were ordered directly from

7700-481: The mission software, landing gear, and other areas. In May 1994, it was proposed to cut production to as few as 32 aircraft; these cuts were later rescinded. A July 1994 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed that USAF and DoD studies from 1986 and 1991 stated the C-17 could use 6,400 more runways outside the U.S. than the C-5, but these studies had only considered runway dimensions, but not runway strength or load classification numbers (LCN). The C-5 has

7800-567: The new entity AWEIL following the corporatization. According to the revised terms, the delivery is proceeding as planned. In March 2023, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of 307 DRDO ATAGS for which tender has been issued. In May 2023, the gun has completed and passed all the user trials for induction into Indian Army. The ATAGS is planned to be deployed on

7900-412: The outside, and at least two died after falling from the aircraft. There were an unknown number possibly crushed and killed by the landing gear retracting, with human remains found in the landing-gear stowage. Also that day, C-17 01-0186 from the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base transported 823 Afghan citizens from Hamid Karzai International Airport on a single flight, setting

8000-603: The pressure relief vents make a sound like the call of a female moose in heat. Since 1999, C-17s have flown annually to Antarctica on Operation Deep Freeze in support of the US Antarctic Research Program , replacing the C-141s used in prior years. The initial flight was flown by the USAF 62nd Airlift Wing . The C-17s fly round trip between Christchurch Airport and McMurdo Station around October each year and take 5 hours to fly each way. In 2006,

8100-672: The purchase of its eighth C-17 in February 2012. The RAF showed interest in buying a ninth C-17 in November 2013. On 13 January 2013, the RAF deployed two C-17s from RAF Brize Norton to the French Évreux Air Base , transporting French armored vehicles to the Malian capital of Bamako during the French intervention in Mali . In June 2015, an RAF C-17 was used to medically evacuate four victims of

8200-481: The purchase was again postponed. On 11 May 2014 the purchase was cleared by India's Ministry of Defence. On 11 July 2014, the Government of India announced that it would not order the guns because of cost issues. On 22 November 2014, the selection process was restarted under the " Make In India " program. On 13 May 2015, the Ministry of Defence approved ₹29 billion (₹2,900 crore) to buy 145 M777 ultralight howitzers from

8300-420: The requirement. The C-17 received the "Globemaster III" name in early 1993. In late 1993, the Department of Defense (DoD) gave the contractor two years to solve production issues and cost overruns or face the contract's termination after the delivery of the 40th aircraft. By accepting the 1993 terms, McDonnell Douglas incurred a loss of nearly US$ 1.5 billion on the program's development phase. In March 1994,

8400-491: The sale under the Foreign Military Sales program. Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed in April 2015 that two additional aircraft were to be ordered, with both delivered by 4 November 2015; these added to the six C-17s it had as of 2015 . The Canadian Armed Forces had a long-standing need for strategic airlift for military and humanitarian operations around the world. It had followed a pattern similar to

8500-647: The sale was approved by Congress in June 2010. On 23 June 2010, the IAF successfully test-landed a USAF C-17 at the Gaggal Airport, India to complete the IAF's C-17 trials. In February 2011, the IAF and Boeing agreed terms for the order of 10 C-17s with an option for six more; the US$ 4.1 billion order was approved by the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security on 6 June 2011. Deliveries began in June 2013 and were to continue to 2014. In 2012,

8600-508: The strategic airlift missions in the operation, the type could use small airfields, easing operations; rapid turnaround times also led to efficient utilization. In 2006, eight C-17s were delivered to March Joint Air Reserve Base , California; controlled by the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), assigned to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing and subsequently assigned to AMC's 436th Airlift Wing and its AFRC "associate" unit,

8700-411: The three C-17s supporting SAC missions had achieved a readiness rate of nearly 94 percent over the last five years and supported over 1,000 missions. In June 2009, the Indian Air Force (IAF) selected the C-17 for its Very Heavy Lift Transport Aircraft requirement to replace several types of transport aircraft. In January 2010, India requested 10 C-17s through the U.S.'s Foreign Military Sales program,

8800-589: The twenty-first century, the trend has been for countries to cooperate in military procurement, due to the rising cost-per-unit of digital age military hardware such as ships and jets. For example, Nordic Defence Cooperation (established 2009), a grouping of Nordic countries that cooperate in defence spending, the Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty , signed between the United Kingdom and France in 2010, and Joint Strike Fighter program , which selected

8900-499: The two nations, deploying Canada's DART and delivering humanitarian supplies and equipment. In 2014, they supported Operation Reassurance and Operation Impact. At the 2006 Farnborough Airshow , a number of NATO member nations signed a letter of intent to jointly purchase and operate several C-17s within the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC). The purchase was for two C-17s, and a third was contributed by

9000-492: The work done by the C-141, and to fulfill some of the duties of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy , freeing the C-5 fleet for outsize cargo . Alternative proposals were pursued to fill airlift needs after the C-X contest. These were lengthening of C-141As into C-141Bs, ordering more C-5s, continued purchases of KC-10s , and expansion of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet . Limited budgets reduced program funding, requiring

9100-406: Was completed at the Long Beach, California , plant and flown on 29 November 2015. The C-17 commonly performs tactical and strategic airlift missions, transporting troops and cargo throughout the world; additional roles include medical evacuation and airdrop duties. The transport is in service with the USAF along with air arms of India , the United Kingdom , Australia , Canada , Qatar ,

9200-595: Was completed by 2023. The Indian army used the M777 howitzer in the Himvijay exercise (2021) in Arunachal Pradesh which involved the newly raised integrated battle groups. In July 2020, in the wake of escalating tension with China in light of hostile Chinese posturing, particularly on the border between the Union Territory of Ladakh and Tibet, further purchases of Excalibur shells were announced by

9300-564: Was formally accepted in a ceremony at Fairbairn shortly after arrival. The second aircraft was delivered to the RAAF on 11 May 2007 and the third was delivered on 18 December 2007. The fourth Australian C-17 was delivered on 19 January 2008. All the Australian C-17s are operated by No. 36 Squadron and are based at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland. On 18 April 2011, Boeing announced that Australia had signed an agreement with

9400-530: Was granted airframes originally slated for the USAF to accelerate delivery. The official Canadian designation is CC-177 Globemaster III . On 23 July 2007, the first Canadian C-17 made its initial flight. It was turned over to Canada on 8 August, and participated at the Abbotsford International Airshow on 11 August prior to arriving at its new home base at 8 Wing, CFB Trenton , Ontario on 12 August. Its first operational mission

9500-404: Was limited to this lower weight. Airflow issues prevented the C-17 from meeting airdrop requirements. A February 1997 GAO report revealed that a C-17 with a full payload could not land on 3,000 ft (914 m) wet runways; simulations suggested a distance of 5,000 ft (1,500 m) was required. The YC-15 was transferred to AMARC to be made flightworthy again for further flight tests for

9600-493: Was planned to be raised by end-2020 with 15 guns supplied by BAE systems and three guns supplied by Mahindra Defense Systems Limited. The Indian Army received its first shipment comprising two howitzers on 18 May 2017 in New Delhi from United States in ready to use condition. It was reported that on 2 September 2017, the barrel of one of the howitzers was damaged while firing during calibration trials. The procurement of 145 guns

9700-415: Was proven for desert operation—Korean APU was under development phase during Indian trial. The vehicle's overall design was modified to suitable for operation in desert and high temperature condition, including the change of firing rate to 3 rounds in 30 seconds. The Indian Army completed high altitude trials at Ladakh under cold climatic conditions. After satisfactory performance at high altitude terrain,

9800-589: Was restarted in July 2010. India's Ministry of Defence cleared the proposal for buying 145 guns for US$ 660 million on 11 May 2012 through the US Government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. This was put up before the Ministry of Finance for clearance and will subsequently be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Security for final approval. On 2 August 2013, India requested the sale of 145 M777 howitzers for US$ 885 million. On 24 February 2014

9900-607: Was signed between Hanwha Techwin and Larsen & Toubro in New Delhi on 21 April. Hanwha Techwin will supply first 10 K9 Vajra-T, and 90 will be license produced in India by Larsen & Toubro. K9 Vajra-T consist 14 major Indian manufactured systems, 50% of component by value, which include Nub ammunition capable FCS and its storage, communication system, and environment control and NBC protection system. Additional systems were installed such as GPS (Gunner's Primary Sight) for direct firing capability, and South African APU , which

10000-421: Was to deliver disaster relief to Jamaica following Hurricane Dean that month. The last of the initial four aircraft was delivered in April 2008. On 19 December 2014, it was reported that Canada intended to purchase one more C-17. On 30 March 2015, Canada's fifth C-17 arrived at CFB Trenton. The aircraft are assigned to 429 Transport Squadron based at CFB Trenton. On 14 April 2010, a Canadian C-17 landed for

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