Boeing delivers 200th transport aircraft to US Air Force

LOS ANGELES - Boeing has delivered the 200th C 17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft to the US Air Force (USAF).

The aircraft was flown from its Long Beach production facility here July 30 to the USAF Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, the aircraft’s new home, company sources told India Strategic defence magazine.

USAF has ordered a total of 223 aircraft.

Boeing is slowing down production of C 17s, expecting some more new international orders before the facility is closed down in four to five years.

But an international network of spares, support and services is being set up to facilitate their operations over the next 30-40 years, the estimated lifetime of the aircraft.

Among the latest buyers are India (10 + 6) and the UAE (six).

(Gulshan Luthra can be contacted at gulshan.luthra@indiastrategic.in)