Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare have announced that Australia will purchase a sixth C-17A Globemaster III heavy-lift aircraft.
The aircraft will be purchased through the United States Foreign Military Sales program, at a total acquisition cost of around $280 million.
The purchase of the sixth C-17A will double the number of aircraft available for operations at any one time from two to four.
It is expected to arrive in Australia early next year.
The acquisition of the fifth C-17A was announced by the Government in March 2011 at a cost of around $260 million. It arrived in Australia in September 2011.