Article Posted on : - Jul 25, 2014

C-17 Globemaster heavylift transport aircraft. Photo: Boeing.

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian Air Force will induct its sixth C-17 Globemaster heavylift transport aircraft on Monday at the Palam air base here.

India had signed a deal for procuring 10 C-17 aircraft from the US under a deal worth around Rs 24,000 crore for augmenting its capability to supply loads and troops to the border areas.

The sixth aircraft would be inducted in presence of Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, IAF officials said.

Jaitley would be given a tour inside the aircraft and would be also briefed about the capabilities of the plane.

The IAF has based the aircraft at the Hindan air base near here in Ghaziabad and has flown it extensively across the country in the last seven-eight months of its induction into operational service.

Former IAF chief NAK Browne had stated that the C-17 can land on airfields such as the Daulat Beg Oldie in Ladakh near the Line of Actual Control as it needs only 3,500 feet to land whether it is hinterland or border.

The C-17, with a capability to carry around 70 tonnes of load and around 150 fully geared troops, has replaced the Russian IL-76 as the biggest aircraft in the IAF inventory till now.