Australia has signed a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the US government to acquire a fifth C-17 for the RAAF, Boeing has confirmed.
The fifth C-17 will be delivered in August after the US Air Force agreed to give up one of its production slots so that Australia could take early delivery of the aircraft. The aircraft will join the RAAF’s existing C-17 fleet in service with 36 Squadron at Amberley.
“Boeing thanks the RAAF, a C-17 customer since 2006, for its confidence in the airlifter’s capabilities,”said C-17 program manager Bob Ciesla.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced Australia’s plans to acquire a fifth C-17 in late February in the lead up to the Avalon Airshow.
To date Boeing has delivered 230 C-17s, including 20 to international customers.
