By Marina Malenic
The Defense Department last week notified Congress of a planned foreign military sale (FMS) of four Boeing [BA]-built C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, which officials say could be used in support of allied operations in Afghanistan.
While the aircraft would be purchased as a direct commercial sale, according to documents provided to lawmakers, the approximately $500 million logistics portion of the acquisition would occur under FMS terms.
According to one U.S. Air Force official who spoke under condition of anonymity, the UAE is considering using the C-17s in support of NATO in Afghanistan, in addition to its own domestic needs. The official added that the country is already providing both intelligence and material support to NATO.
“The UAE already quietly provides a lot of support to operations in Afghanistan, and sales of this nature further bolster their ability to be involved in the multinational effort,” the official told Defense Daily.
Congress last year extended the C-17 production line, despite Pentagon attempts to close it. President Barack Obama signed the $636.3 billion defense appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010 into law last month, providing $2.5 billion for 10 new aircraft not requested by the Pentagon. The program’s political supporters have questioned Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ assertion that the U.S. military has excess strategic airlift capacity.
Qatar, meanwhile, has received two C-17s and has indicated that it could purchase up to two more. Boeing officials have projected that up to 20 of the aircraft could be sold in the Middle East alone.
Elsewhere, the United Kingdom yesterday signed a contract to purchase one additional C-17, a move that will expand its fleet to seven.