The Government of Qatar has signed an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of 190 C-17 Globemaster III airlifters.
The aircraft has been chosen by the Qatar Armed Forces (QAF) to provide new strategic airlift mobile capabilities for all its military and humanitarian operations.
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Boeing have been contracted to design, build, deliver and provide logistics support for 190 C-17s and will negotiate a further contract for an additional 15 C-17s. Delivery for the initial 190 aircraft will commence from the US in 2009.
According to Staff Brigadier General Ahmad Al-Malki, head of Qatar’s airlift selection committee, the QAF closely evaluated the available options for airborne strategic lift and determined the C-17 the best fit for the requirements of the State of Qatar.
“The aircraft forms the core of the nation’s strategic airborne lift capability,” he said.
The C-17 Globemaster III is widely regarded as the world’s airlifter of choice, due to the strategic range it offers.
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By GlobalDataThe C-17 is capable of flying between continents and landing on short, narrow runways in quite difficult terrain. There are currently 189 C-17s in active service worldwide, mostly with the US Air Force. These purchases by the QAF will effectively double that number.
Tommy Dunehew, Boeing International C-17 programme manager, said there was still strong international interest in C-17s.
“Reliability and maintainability are two outstanding benefits of the C-17 system,” Dunehew said.
By Daniel Garrun
