Boeing has delivered
the sixth Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17 Globemaster III at the company's final assembly facility in
Long Beach.
The airlifter will be assigned to No. 36 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, where it will
help meet increased demand for airlift to support military, humanitarian and
peacekeeping operations.
"The C-17 is a capability that has improved
Australia's reach locally, regionally and globally. Individually, the aircraft
is impressive – but as a fleet, it has fundamentally enhanced our strategic
airlift agility to meet the Australian Defence Force Air Mobility requirements,"
said RAAF Chief of Air Force, Air
Marshal Geoff Brown.
Australia announced its intent to buy a sixth airlifter
during last year’s arrival ceremony for the RAAF's fifth C-17.
The contract was completed on June 6 and now Boeing has
delivered the aircraft less than five months later.
Boeing provides after-delivery support to the RAAF C-17
fleet as part of the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP)
Performance-Based Logistics agreement with the US Air Force.
The GISP "virtual fleet" arrangement provides
the highest airlift mission-capable rate at one of the lowest costs per flying
hour.
Australia announced its intent to buy a sixth airlifter during last year’s arrival ceremony for the RAAF's fifth C-17.
