Strategic weight

RAAF to get fifth C-17

The Australian government has requested pricing and availability from the US for a fifth Boeing C-17A Globemaster III strategic airlifter for the RAAF.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith made the announcement on the eve of the Avalon Airshow at the Chief of Air Force’s dinner in Melbourne on February 28. “Recent events in Queensland and Christchurch have underlined the C-17s as an essential part of Australia’s capacity to respond to natural disasters both within Australia and within our region,” Smith said, adding that an additional C-17 “would almost certainly obviate any need for the acquisition of two additional C‑130J-30 aircraft under Project Air 8000 Phase 1. ” The Minister’s announcement was followed up on March 9 with a US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) request to the US Congress. It read: “The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of [US]$300 million. The government of Australia has requested a possible sale of one C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, up to four Pratt & Whitney F117‑PW-100 engines, one AN/AAQ-24V(13) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) System, spare and repair parts, supply and test equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, United States government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is [US]$300 million. ”