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.