Posted on 10/02/2014 6:49:46 PM PDT by naturalman1975
THE Abbott Government has cleared the way to spend $500 million on two additional Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport jets for the air force.
The United States Congress has approved the sale under the Foreign Military Sales program — an essential requirement for purchase — and the huge new planes will roll off the production line at Long Beach in California within a few months.
This will bring the total number of the $250 million strategic heavy lift jets in service with the RAAF’s Number 36 Squadron at Amberley near Brisbane to eight.
Defence Minister David Johnston will announce the plan today (FRI) and while a final decision has not been taken by Cabinet that appears to be a formality.
The minister said the two extra Globemasters would “significantly enhance” the RAAF’s capacity for operational tasks, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance in our region and around the world.
“Since the first delivery in 2006, we have seen the C-17A Globemaster perform exceptionally well at the forefront of Australia’s military operations and humanitarian work,” Senator Johnston said yesterday.
“Recent global events have seen Australia’s national capabilities like the C-17A come to the fore to assist our friends and allies.”
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Is ISIS getting some new supply planes?
Very impressive; but they could get cheaper ones from Russia (ie, more planes for less money).
And China is shortly to get into the act.
At $250 million a plane, the cost is just too, too much.
If you ever get the chance to see a C17 do its air show routine you should
Is it just me being old but is military hardware costs going stratospheric? I remember people freaking out over F-15s costing 28 million in the 90s and now cargo haulers are 200 million plus?
Do the Russians have something in production that can carry an Abrams tank with the same type of range that can operate on the same type of runways?
And even if they did, we’d always rather buy from a close ally where possible.
The cost of a boeing 787 “dreamliner” is about the same amount. What seems out of line for you?
CC
I just found out that the Navy is bringing the Blue Angels to the Air Force base near my sister next spring.The show won't feature the C-17...or the C-5...but it still should be impressive.About 20 years ago the Air Force held a show near me which featured a low altitude flyby by a B1...afterburner and all.Amazing.
Don't know if you've seen the video of a C-17 that was preparing for an airshow crashing in Alaska a few years back.Ugly ain't the word for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKGlzLsigBA
This is from Chino we were ther for this one not my clip enjoy
Yes very sad looks like that b 52 chrash
I lived near Ellsworth air force base years ago and the B52s would practice takeoffs and landing and fly over the top of my work area .
The Buffs were not the biggest thing flying around but they impressed me.
I could not figure out how something so big could seemingly float in the air
Sorry, but wrong. When one makes a million of something, one can charge $200 for it and make back the design & test costs and a profit.
If one makes 100,000 of the same thing, one can charge $2,000 for it and make back the design & test costs and a profit.
If one makes 100 of of the same thing, one has charge $200,000 for it and make back the design & test costs and a profit.
ALL military hardware is small lot, usually in the 100’s at a time at best!
Also, these aircraft will be flying for 50 years... So, $250 million/50 years... is $5 million a year too much?
Throw in the maintenance of 10% of the purchase price per year and it’s still a bargain!
Take a look at the cost of a commercial liner like a 777 or 747, they go for $250 - $300 million a copy. Do you feel those are a bad investment?
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