C-17's to Indian Air Force???

The Indian government is in negotiations with Boeing to purchase 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.  This would be welcome news to the C-17 program and the dedicated workers at the Long Beach, California plant where the C-17 is assembled, not to mention the hundreds of suppliers scattered about the country that produce parts for the C-17.  With the number of unfulfilled orders dwindling by the month, the program needs more orders to stay alive.  Congress is trying to appropriate funds for up to an additional 10 C-17's, but the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense have repeatedly stated that they don't require any more C-17's beyond what it already has on order, so it'll be a tough battle to get funds for those additional aircraft.  International orders have to take up the slack, so all the more reason why this deal with India could potentially save the C-17 line.

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