India’s First C-17 Globemaster III To Arrive In 2013

The first of India’s ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III heavy airlifters underwent a major production step with the integration of the forward, center and aft fuselages and the wing assembly on Tuesday. In 2011, India's Ministry of Defence signed an agreement with the U.S. government to acquire 10 C-17 airlifters making India the largest C-17 customers outside the US. Ambassador N. Parthasarathi, Consul General of India, San Francisco, said, ". As India strives to become a global reservoir of highly skilled and technologically sophisticated manpower, we will witness an escalating technology transfer, collaborative joint research and development, and co-production of defense items between our two countries". “This is a proud day for the highly skilled Boeing workforce and our newest customer to celebrate a major production milestone," said Bob Ciesla, Boeing Airlift vice president and C-17 program manager. "We are preparing for India’s first C-17 to enter flight test on schedule early next year, and we look forward to providing for India's current and future needs and continuing to support C-17s long after they are delivered". The C-17s will begin flight testing which is scheduled for early next year and will be used primarily to airlift the country’s Special Forces in the event of Mumbai-type terrorist attacks, hijacks, and other national emergencies.