Boeing [BA] on July 28 delivered a third C-17 Globemaster III airlifter to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the C-17’s assembly facility in Long Beach, the company said.
Boeing is contracted to deliver a fourth C-17 to the UAE later this year and two more in 2012. The UAE accepted delivery of its first C-17 in May. The C-17’s ability to transport payloads across vast ranges without refueling and operate in varying climates allows it to meet the UAE’s strategic and tactical airlift requirements.
“We selected the C-17 Globemaster III for the versatility and reliability the aircraft brings to our mission,” said UAE Air Force and Air Defence Officer Commanding Col. Pilot Humaid Al Mansoori. “The first two C-17s delivered to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence have been flying around the world in support of humanitarian missions. The fleet’s newest airlifter is a welcome addition so that we can continue to be ready for any contingency, anywhere and any time.”
As a member of the worldwide C-17 “virtual fleet,” the UAE’s C-17s are supported through the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership. Under the virtual fleet concept, C-17 customers receive comprehensive worldwide logistics support (spares, support equipment, tech orders, sustaining engineering, and on-site field teams) through use of shared resources across the entire fleet, the company added.
There are currently 234 C-17s in service worldwide, 211 of which belong to the U.S. Air Force. International customers include Qatar, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. India became the newest C-17 customer in June, and will acquire 10 C-17s in 2013-2014.