Prime contractor: The Boeing Company (USA) under FMS case with the US Government.

This Project provides a global heavy airlift capability based around four Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and related provisions. The C-17 significantly enhances the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) ability to support national and international operations and major disaster rescue and relief efforts.

All four C-17 aircraft had entered into service with the RAAF by March 2008, ahead of the predicted schedule. Significant project activity remains to delivering remaining long lead-time logistics support provisions, role equipment, training devices and facilities required to completely attain Heavy Air Lift capability.

Initial operational capability was achieved in September 2007, and following the arrival of the last aircraft in March 2008, all four aircraft have been operating in an air logistics support role (for purposes such as personnel and cargo transport). Expansion to other roles including Air Drop and high-dependency patient Aero-Medical Evacuation will occur progressively in 2008-09 as specialist equipment is procured, personnel trained and airworthiness accreditation obtained.