Boeing C 17 On a Roll in the Middle East, Asia

Middle East and Asia are turning in big orders for the Boeing C-17 transporter. Following the delivery of the fourth C-17 Globemaster III to the U.A.E. Air Force and Air Defence, other countries in the region are eyeing the strategic airlifter to join their air forces as well. Boeing is said to be talks with Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for possible C-17 buys. The U.A.E. is said to receive two more C-17s later this year and indications from the Emirates are that the aircraft have proved themselves in both military as well as in humanitarian operations that the Emirati Air Force has undertaken this year. Across the Arabian Sea, India has inked a deal with Boeing for 10 C-17s with options for six more making it one the largest C-17 operators in the Asia-pacific region. Saudi Arabia which operates a fleet of ageing C130Js has been looking closely at the C-17s now that it sees a greater military/humanitarian role for itself in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. Similarly Oman and Kuwait too have indicated a desire to have strategic airlift capability. In the Asia-Pacific region, Malaysia and Singapore are potential candidates as well. Regional natural disasters are prompting humanitarian missions which are well served with an aircraft such as the C-17. Boeing, which was staring at a possible closure of the C-17 assembly in a few years time following the scale-back of U.S. Air Force orders last year has bounced back with a string of international orders. In addition, it is well on its way to serve the U.S. Air Force again with replacement orders for older strategic heavy lift aircraft such as the C5. Boeing’s C-17 Middle East strategy will come in for international media attention at next month’s Dubai Air Show which possible new customers could be made known.