Article Posted on : - May 13, 2011

The C-17 Globemaster III transport plane at Aero India 2011. A BNS photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): India is at an advanced stage of considering purchase of 10 American C-17 heavylift transport aircraft and a decision is expected soon.

The $4 billion deal is likely to be put up before the Cabinet Committee on Security in the near future for consideration, Defence Ministry sources said.

The proposed deal has been hanging fire for a long time with India seeking several clarifications from the manufacturer Boeing, the sources noted.

The Defence Ministry has already approved funds for procuring the aircraft in this fiscal, they added.

Boeing, along with another US company Lockheed Martin, recently failed to qualify in the bid for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) which the Indian Air Force is acquiring.

India is planning to procure the new transport planes to augment its fleet which presently comprises Russian-made aircraft Ilyushin-76 and Antonov-32.

After finalising the initial deal for 10 aircraft, the IAF is also planning to place orders for additional six aircraft.