Indian Air Force inducts C-17 Globe Master, its biggest transport aircraft

New Delhi: Giving a major thrust to Indian Air Force's capability to swiftly move troops and tanks to battle fronts, Defence Minister AK Antony today inducted the 70-tonne C-17 Globe Master heavy-lift transport aircraft into service at the Hindon Air Base, near Delhi. The plane's formal induction is a giant stride for the force and it will perform tactical and non-traditional operations also, he said. The C-17 Globe Master aircraft has been procured from the United States in an over 20,000-crore- deal. A symbolic key of the plane was presented by the minister to the unit's commanding officer to mark its induction.
 Speaking on the occasion, Air Force chief NAK Browne said the plane will be operated from the advanced landing grounds in the northeastern states as well as from high altitude bases in north and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. "The C-17 Globe Master transport aircraft will change the way we deploy force in the north and north east," he said. The C-17, with a capability to carry around 70 tonnes of load and around 150 fully geared troops, will replace the Russian IL-76 as the biggest aircraft in the Air Force inventory till now.
The IL-76 has the capability to carry loads upto around 40 tonnes. The Indian Air Force has placed orders for 10 C-17 aircraft under the deal signed in 2011 and three of them have already been delivered. The delivery of all the 10 planes is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year. The Indian Air Force may also exercise the option of procuring six more planes. The aircraft is expected to enhance the operational potential of the Air Force with its payload carriage and performance capability and would augment the strategic reach during disaster relief or any similar mission.
 In recent times, the IAF has shifted its dependence from the Russian-origin aircraft towards the American ones with the induction of the C-17 and the C-130J Super Hercules transport planes.The Air Force operates six C-130Js and has plans of procuring six more for operations on small and unpaved runways alongside routine transport missions. The Air Force also has the Russian Antonov-32 in its inventory.