India becomes Boeing C-17’s largest international customer

India’s Ministry of Defence signed an agreement on June 15 with the U.S. government to acquire 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifters. The Foreign Military Sale establishes India as the C-17's largest international customer. The agreement provides for 30% offsets of the estimated $4billion contract value. Boeing has already identified some of the vendors for the offsets. According to the agreement, India will take delivery of its C-17s in 2013 and 2014. "The C-17 will elevate India's leadership in the region," said Dinesh Keskar, president, Boeing India. "With its tactical and strategic capabilities, the C-17 fulfills India's needs for military and humanitarian airlift. The important transaction reaffirms our close relationship of several decades with India and also highlights our commitment to the strategic partnership between the two countries". Boeing will support India's C-17 fleet through the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership, a proven multinational Performance-Based Logistics program. The GSP "virtual fleet" arrangement ensures mission readiness by providing all C-17 customers - with varied fleet sizes - access to an extensive support network for worldwide parts availability and economies of scale when purchasing materials. Said Mark Kronenberg, vice president of International Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, "we look forward to partnering with India as we move forward with the agreement's 30 percent offset program, which will help strengthen India's aerospace and defense capabilities”.