Posted on 07/19/2010 10:19:33 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
India could buy 10 to 12 more C-17 transport planes from Boeing Co beyond the 10 planes already planned, Christopher Chadwick, president of Boeing military aircraft told Reuters on Monday.
Boeing, the No. 2 U.S. defense contractor, is forecasting strong demand for the C-17 planes, which have been used heavily during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Chadwick said at the Farnborough Airshow outside London.
Boeing had seen interest from multiple buyers in the Middle East and the Asian-Pacific region, and NATO countries could also buy more of the cargo planes in coming years, Chadwick said in an interview.
On Sunday, Boeing officials said the company could sell 20 more C-17 transport planes to foreign buyers over the next five to ten years, in addition to the 10 already planned for India.
Chadwick said the number could rise even higher, given expectations that India could eventually more than double its planned purchase of 10 C-17s.
The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency in April announced approval of the sale of the 10 transport planes and related equipment, putting its value at up to $5.8 billion.
Chadwick said Boeing expected a slight increase in military aircraft revenues internationally over the next five to 10 years, bolstered by sales of transport planes and fighter aircraft.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Ping
A great air frame. The design is classy, IMHO (I live near McChord AFB that is an air lift base. Lots of C17’s all day long!!)
Same Here.
Same Here.
I think the Indians are throwing us a bone either witting or unwittingly to keep this bird alive post Obummer so someone then can order another sizable batch. I have seen them @ airshows do some amazing things.
I don't want to start the pissing match again, but I think the C-17 is the platform for our future aerial refueler It would take some out of the box thinking to make it happen like rolling in the fuel trucks in the hold etc etc. Boy have I gotten into some "interesting" discussions with those here who see it differently..
The C-17 is a big fuel guzzler.
A C-17 can carry 45.t over a distance of 4,000 nm. An A330F can carry other such a distance 64 t. By splitting the range you can estimate how much fuel each aircraft can deliver at a range of 2,000 nm.
MTOW of a C-17 is also 30 t heavier than A330.
According to Air Force data a C-17 burns about 103 % more fuel than a B767 or about 65 % more than a A330.
If you really like a cargo aircraft why not AN-124?
Can deliver 92 t at 4,000 nm but guzzles about 50 % more than a C-17. But even AN-124 needs less fuel for each pound of fuel delivered than a C-17.
Try flying an A330F into or out of an unimproved 3,000’ runway. Try getting a Stryker vehicle into an A330F. But if all you’re moving is palletized cargo, it is a good choice, which is why it would make an excellent KC-X.
If the AN-124 isn’t full, it’s fuel per pound of delivered cargo goes way up.
The A400M is a nice compromise between the C-130 and the C-17, but cost and delivery times are uncertain.
There is no one size fits all in the cargo business.
You can do this once. Build an A330F around 3 Stryker and slam the aircraft down on the runway.
BTW. A Stryker is just 2 inches to high to fit in A330F’s cargo door (141’’ x 101’’) . With flat tires a several Stryker may fit in if you can turn the vehicle and the floor is strong enough.
“There is no one size fits all in the cargo business.”
That's also true for refueling. Therefore I would expect USAF calling for a real smaller tanker someday (A320/B737/CSeries/Tu-204/Superjet 100/E-195X ...).
Sorry, I was on vacation with the family. Thanks too for the Farnborough ping.
As for smaller tankers, that will happen when the USAF gets their glass inserts for their belly buttons (so they can still see with their heads up their arses,) and order F-35s with dual refueling capability - the flying boom refueling and the probe and drogue from the F-35B and -C. The room is there, all that is needed is the will.
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