Australian government procures aircraft for Air Force

The Australian Government has signed an agreement with the US Government to acquire a fifth Boeing C-17 Globemaster III for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which will expand its C-17 fleet as it faces increased demand for humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

RAAF C-17s supported relief efforts to earthquake- and tsunami-affected regions in Japan under Operation Pacific Assist for nearly two weeks in March.

The RAAF delivered personnel and more than half a million kilos of cargo, including food and water, vehicles, disaster relief equipment, and pumps to help cool the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Weeks earlier, the RAAF supported relief efforts in Christchurch, New Zealand, following the earthquake there, and to several communities in Queensland that were affected by flooding.

Due to the RAAF's immediate need for an additional airlifter, the US Air Force has approved Australia’s request to take delivery of its fifth C-17 in August. The airlifter will be assigned to RAAF Base Amberley’s 36 Squadron, near Brisbane.

Boeing provides support to the RAAF's C-17 through the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership, a performance-based logistics program that includes an extensive support network.

Boeing has delivered 230 C-17s worldwide to date, including 20 to international forces. The US Air Force has taken delivery of 210.

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