Article Posted on : - Feb 14, 2014

Kuwait's first C-17 Globemaster III airlifter. A Boeing photo

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA (BNS): US defence major Boeing has delivered Kuwait's first C-17 Globemaster III airlifter, an aircraft that will expand the Kuwait Air Force's capabilities in military operations.

A custom paint design distinguishes the Kuwait C-17 from the 259 others that have been delivered to customers around the world.

Boeing will support Kuwait's C-17 fleet through the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Programme, a proven multinational Performance-Based Logistics programme.

"The C-17 meets the unique airlift requirements of the Kuwait Air Force," Col. Abdullah Al Foudari, Deputy Commander Kuwait Air Force was quoted as saying.

"With this airlifter we can more effectively participate in the operations we choose, transporting large payloads across long distances, flying at high altitudes in hot climates such as ours, and landing on short, unpaved runways."

Boeing has delivered 260 C-17s, including 223 to the U.S. Air Force, and a total of 37 to Kuwait, Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.