India at advanced stage of considering purchase of C-17 planes

India is at an advanced stage of considering purchase of 10 American C-17 heavylift transport aircraft and a decision is expected soon.

India is at an advanced stage of considering purchase of 10 American C-17 heavylift transport aircraft and a decision is expected soon.

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The $4 billion deal is likely to be put up before the Cabinet Committee on Security in the near future for consideration, Defence Ministry sources said. The proposed deal has been hanging fire for long with India seeking several clarifications from the manufacturer Boeing, the sources noted.

The Defence Ministry has already approved funds for procuring the aircraft in this fiscal, they added. Boeing, along with another US company Lockheed Martin, recently failed to qualify in the bid for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) which IAF is acquiring.

India is planning to procure the aircraft for augmenting its fleet which now comprises Russian-made transport aircraft Ilyushin-76 and Antonov-32. After finalising the initial deal for ten aircraft, the IAF is also planning to place orders for additional six aircraft.