India’s proposed purchase of 10 Boeing C-17s has been approved by the US Congress, clearing the way for final negotiations to take place.
The sale, first revealed in an April Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSAC) notification to Congress, is valued at about US$5.8bn (A$6.9bn) including FMS fees, spares, training and infrastructure.
“We are pleased that India’s intent to buy 10 C-17 Globemaster III has received US Congressional approval,” Boeing India’s VP for Defense, Space and Security, Vivek Lall, told India Strategic. “With this, the Indian government is one step closer to acquiring the C-17 which we believe is ideally suited to meet India’s airlift needs for military and humanitarian purposes. The submittal of the Letter of Acceptance to the government of India will be the next step towards finalising the Foreign Military Sale.”
If a contract is signed this year, first delivery to India would be scheduled for late 2013.
