United States Air Force C-17 on take-off.

Government has selected the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in a $2.2 billion project to acquire a fleet of up to four aircraft.

The C-17 is a highly reliable, long range, heavy lift aircraft designed to rapidly transport large outsized cargo over long distances, giving the Australian Defence Force (ADF) the ability to rapidly move personnel, equipment and helicopters to support operations globally.

The acquisition will boost investment in Australia’s aerospace industry, with Boeing planning to execute an Australian Industry Capability program. The program will be worth 10 per cent of the acquisition price and 30 per cent of the support price of the contracts.

It will represent an Australian industry program valued in excess of $345 million over the 30 year life of the aircraft. Based on outcomes from similar projects, it is expected to provide in the order of 100 additional jobs for the first five years and 40 jobs thereafter.

The specific make-up of the program will be defined collaboratively between Defence Materiel Organisation and Boeing with the objective of increasing Australian defence industry capabilities.

Opportunities include C-17 on-aircraft and support equipment maintenance and logistic support services; non C-17 related work packages, including opportunities to bid for some multi-mission aircraft work packages; work package opportunities for small to medium enterprises; and investment in schools and universities.

As the C-17 aircraft is currently already in production a quick delivery date is expected with the first aircraft scheduled to arrive in Australia by late 2006 and the balance of the fleet to be delivered by mid 2008.

Statistics on the C-17