A month after the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) first Boeing C-17 entered service, IAF has taken delivery of its second C-17 Globemaster III on July 22, 2013. This second C-17 will also immediately enter service. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne on a four-day tour to the US, took the delivery of C-17 from Boeing in Long Beach, California.

“C-17s have an important role in supporting unique Indian Air Force operations in remote locations such as the Himalayas and desert environments,” said Nan Bouchard, Boeing Vice President and C-17 Programme Manager. “The C-17 provides the versatility to complete any mission, anywhere. We look forward to working with the Indian Air Force and the US Air Force (USAF) as we deliver the remainder of India’s fleet.”

The Air Chief said: “I feel extremely honoured to be here to accept the second C-17 Globemaster for the Indian Air Force. The delivery of India-2 this afternoon marks an important milestone in the Indo-US global strategic partnership.

“From where I see things on the other side of the globe, India and the United States are witnessing a defining phase in their relationship. Spurred by a convergence of interests, our nations have ongoing cooperation on a wide range of issues. I believe that as the two largest democracies, we share common values of freedom and peaceful coexistence. Our shared belief in equality underpins the strong desire for international peace and stability.

“The complementary strengths of India and United States provide a solid foundation for developing mutually beneficial strategic responses in the 21st century. Close bilateral military engagements form a crucial element in this global partnership. The growing defence cooperation has fostered greater understanding and appreciation about our commonalities as well as unique security imperatives.

“The C-17 Globemaster programme is an excellent example of our multi-dimensional relationship. The programme re-affirms our faith in strong bilateral ties and productive exchanges. The Globemaster was specifically chosen to address Indian capability enhancement needs. As you are aware the IAF has undertaken a major modernisation drive, fully aligned with its mandate of providing critical capabilities to our nation. The enhancement in IAF’s operational potential will enable us to secure our national interests and protect our people. Following the successful induction and operationalisation of C-130 J Super Hercules, the procurement of 10 C-17 aircraft will provide a tremendous boost to our strategic airlift capability. I am told that the Globemaster project will make IAF the second largest operator in the world after the United States.

“The C-17 brings with it a proven track record and significant combat capabilities. The platform’s ability to rapidly deploy at long distances with large payloads gives the Indian Air Force tremendous flexibility in supporting our combat operations. The enhanced reach and versatility will support operations in an extremely challenging terrain that spans from the Himalayas in the north where we have bases at an altitude of 11,000-13,000 ft to the Indian Ocean region in the South. With its ability to operate from short landing strips, the aircraft will also be a crucial enabler in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) within our borders and beyond.

“I wish to place on record my appreciation for the US Government for facilitating the Globemaster programme. I thank them for critical support and oversight that assisted in expeditious completion of the process. I also thank USAF for providing comprehensive training to our crew. The training for 20 pilots and 10 loadmasters has been completed successfully. The project will see a total of 30 pilots, 15 loadmasters and 96 technicians being trained on all aspects of operations and maintenance. The exposure to CONOPS and operational indoctrination by USAF will contribute immensely in early operationalisation of the fleet.

“I also compliment Boeing for honouring the delivery schedule and ensuring a fast track induction plan. The company is scheduled to deliver three more C-17s this year and remaining five in 2014. I am confident of Boeing’s commitment to future timelines and I look forward to a strong professional association between Boeing and IAF. As we look at new areas of cooperation, I find tremendous potential in Boeing’s capacity and expertise for IAF’s ongoing capability enhancement. The upcoming programmes on Chinook and Apache are ideal examples of this potential.

“I commend the IAF C-17 crew who through their hard work and professionalism have made early operationalisation a reality. As they prepare to fly India-2 out of Long Beach, I wish them happy landings. Their arrival is keenly awaited in India.”