India Still Looking To Buy Additional Boeing C-17 Heavy Lift Aircraft

The Indian government is pursuing the procurement of an additional C-17 heavy lift aircraft for the Indian Air Force, Minister of State for defence Subhash Bhamre, replying to a question in the Parliament Tuesday.

India has already bought 10 C-17 aircraft from the US. 

The US State Department in June this year approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India for Boeing C-17 transport aircraft for $366.2 million.

India has sought an additional three C-17 military transport planes to supplement the six already in service with the IAF.

However the Indian request could not be complied with as Boeing had shut down the C-17 plant for want of sufficient orders. It had just a single aircraft let for sale at the end of last year.

Boeing had announced on November 29 that it plans to shut down the C-17 manufacturing facilities due to lack of orders.