Royal Air Force To Receive Airlifter Later This Year

The UK Ministry of Defence has signed an agreement for the acquisition of one C-17 Globemaster III, bringing the Royal Air Force (RAF) fleet to a total of eight. Boeing is scheduled to deliver the C-17 later this year. “The tremendous teamwork of Boeing and U.S. Government officials has made it possible to announce this acquisition so quickly after we determined the need for this additional C-17,” said UK Ministry of Defence Head of Commercial for Air Support Robin Philip. “This C-17 will be a welcome addition to the RAF fleet."

RAF C-17s had surpassed 50,000 flight hours in December 2009, when the UK announced its intent to purchase a seventh aircraft. By the time the seventh C-17 was delivered in November 2010, the fleet had logged more than 60,000 flight hours. The fleet has now surpassed 74,000 flight hours – a rate 15 percent above planned use. “We have watched with great pride over the past decade as the RAF, our first international C-17 customer, has supported global peacekeeping missions and responded to the needs of millions affected by natural disasters around the world,” said Bob Ciesla, Boeing vice president and C-17 program manager.

“We understand the need to move quickly to bring this contract to completion,” said Liz Pace, Boeing C-17 UK program manager. “This additional order is a testament to our strong relationship with the UK as well as to the aircraft’s advanced capability, flexibility and reliability.”

The RAF C-17s are operated by 99Squadron at RAF Brize Norton. C-17s are used to support Operation Herrick, the transport of large equipment and troops to Afghanistan. RAF C-17s also delivered relief supplies following devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and provided humanitarian relief following floods in Pakistan.

FMI: www.mod.uk, www.boeing.com