The acquisition of C-17s along with the impending induction of C-130Js from Lockheed Martin would greatly enhance the ‘single-wave’ capability of the IAF for airborne operations

President Obama’s early November visit to New Delhi provided the ultimate Diwali gift for the Indian Air Force (IAF). First was the deal to go ahead with the General Electric F414-GE-400 engine for the Tejas MK II programme. Equally important was the firming up of the deal to acquire 10 C-17 Globemaster III heavy airlifters with an option for additional six later, if required. That the IAF was in urgent need of building up on its much eroded capability in this particular area was anything but a safely guarded secret. Its present fleet of 14 or so IL-76 heavy airlifters has been plagued with poor serviceability due to perennial problems of spares and maintenance support including delays in overhauls which have to be conducted abroad in the absence of these facilities in India. The situation has been so grim that at times the IAF is unable to field more than a couple of these airplanes for operational tasks. Apart from resulting in serious erosion in its heavy-lift capability, the IAF has been often subjected to undesirable embarrassment at the highest level.

The crying need for the IAF to spruce up its strategic heavy-lift capability and ever-growing strategic partnership with the US including enhanced defence relations seemed to have fused together for the two countries to get into talks for India to acquire 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft with an option for six more at a later date. It may be recalled that initiated in 2005, India and the United States had finally signed a landmark civilian nuclear deal in 2008, which facilitated further enhancement of cooperation in the defence sector with the entry of US companies like Lockheed Martin and Boeing into India’s lucrative defence market. While the two companies are already in the race for India’s 126-aircraft medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) programme, Lockheed Martin has already bagged the order for the supply of six C-130J Super Hercules, the induction of which would commence into the IAF in early 2011. On the other hand, Boeing has the Indian Navy order for the supply of eight P-8I Poseidon multi-role maritime patrol aircraft. Both are looking forward to repeat orders for their aircraft from the IAF and Indian Navy, respectively.

From the very inception to the signing of the agreement, it could perhaps be one of the fastest defence deals as far as the IAF is concerned. It was in June 2009, the IAF selected the C-17 to fulfill its very heavy lift transport aircraft (VHETAC) requirement. Six months later, in January 2010, the US government received a request from India for 10 C-17s through its foreign military sales (FMS) programme, which was approved by the US Congress in June with the signing of the agreement being timed to coincide with President Obama’s November visit. While there appears to be some anomaly in the financial size of the deal different sources quoting either $5.8 billion (Rs. 26,100 crore) or $4.1 billion (Rs. 18,450 crore), it is bound to be resolved soon between the two sides through official dialogue during the final price negotiation and the firm order is likely to be placed by early 2011. The IAF could get its first Globemaster by 2013-14.

For Boeing, the deal could prove to be Godsend as till very recently it was considering closure of the C-17 assembly line for want of new orders. The USAF for which the aircraft was primarily designed and developed had at one time decided to cap their procurement at 190 aircraft even though interested parties in the US Congress wanted to continue with the production for some more time. Boeing had at one stage asked its subcontractors to stop making components, which they were supplying to the C-17 plant for the final assembly of the aircraft. However, C-17’s utilisation in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan has been so outstanding that the USAF reversed its earlier stance by ordering additional 15 aircraft last year citing ‘excessive combat use’ of its C-17 fleet. Even UK, which is an active partner of the US-led coalition forces for global war on terror (GWOT), has been so impressed with the C-17 operations that it has decided to expand its fleet to eight aircraft. The new developments have meant that the C-17 production would continue ensuring—as President Obama stated during the ‘agreement signing ceremony’ in Delhi—more than the 20,000 US jobs.

Acquisition of the gigantic C-17 Globemaster III by the IAF signals a quantum jump in realising its dream of acquiring the necessary strategic reach in tune with India’s aim to have swift power projection capabilities; with the region spanning from the Persian Gulf to Malacca Strait being seen as the country’s primary area of geostrategic interest. Much more capable than the existing strategic airlifter of the IAF, C-17 can carry a max payload of 77 tonnes compared to the IL-76’s 45-tonne capability (see Box). It is much easier to operate with a small crew of two pilots and a loadmaster despite its massive size owing to its advanced power-assisted systems. An IL-76, on the other hand, carries a mandatory crew of six plus a gunner in the tail. Powered by four Pratt & Whitney turbofans, each producing a massive 40,000 lb+ (180kN) static thrust, a fully loaded C-17 can take-off from a 7,600 ft runway and land at forward airfields with landing strips measuring as little as 3,600 ft in length.