[Marauder]

Tiphnooman:

A Australia decidiu adquirir 4 bichos destes.

A sério?

Quando é que foi isso?

Mas já há contrato assinado e calendário para entrega, ou ainda está em estudo?

Ainda não é certo, mas tá em estudo :

Australia – C-17 Globemaster III Aircraft  
 
 
(Source: US Defense Security Cooperation Agency; issued April 3, 2006)
 
 
 On 3 April 2006, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of up to four C-17 GLOBEMASTER III aircraft, as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2 billion.  
 
The Government of Australia requested a possible sale of up to four C-17 GLOBEMASTER III aircraft, up to 18 Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 engines, up to four AN/AAQ-24V(13) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Systems, up to 15 AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Goggles; Personnel Life Support equipment, spare and repair parts, supply support, training equipment and support, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $2 billion.  
 
Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. Australia’s efforts in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations have made a significant impact to regional, political, and economic stability and have served U.S. national security interests. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives and facilitates burden sharing with our allies.  
 
Australia does not currently have a heavy airlift capability and must rely on outside sources for these services. This assistance normally takes the form of either U.S. Air Force airlift or contract carriers that use Russian heavy airlift aircraft. The C-17 will greatly improve Australia’s capability to rapidly deploy in support of global coalition operations and will also greatly enhance its ability to lead regional humanitarian/peacekeeping operations.  
 
Australia has the ability to absorb and employ the C-17. It plans on basing the C-17s at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberly. RAAF Base Amberly will become the primary base for airlift and tanker aircraft and is currently undergoing the infrastructure upgrades required to support the C-17 and other large aircraft Australia has currently contracted to purchase.  
 
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.  
 
This proposed sale will involve the following contractors:  
 
--Boeing Company Long Beach, California  
--Boeing Company Training Systems St. Louis, Missouri  
--AAI Services Corporation Goose Creek, South Carolina  
--United Technologies Corporation East Hartford, Connecticut  
--Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Rolling Meadows, Illinois  
 
Additional subcontractors may be needed depending on the exact nature of the contracting arrangements established. Offset agreements associated with this proposed sale are expected, but at this time the specific offset agreements are undetermined and will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and contractors.  
 
This proposed sale will result in Boeing establishing a facility at RAAF Base Amberly that will provide logistics support for the C-17 under the current GLOBEMASTER Support Partnership. The proposed plan will require seven each U.S. Government and Australian representatives at the facility. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of up to ten each U.S. Government and contractor representatives to travel to Australia for annual participation in training, program management, and technical review.  
 
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.  
 
This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

site www.defense-aerospace.com

[Rui Elias]

Entretanto, correm rumores de que perante a idade avançada da generalidade da frota de C-130 da Força Aérea do Canadá, o Governo de Otawa está a equacionar a possibilidade de encomendar 6 C-17 para complementar a frota de C-130, então mais reduzida que ficará a operar ao serviço daquele país.

Actualmente o Canadá opera mais de 30 C-130 (9 C-130H e os restantes no padrão E).

[typhonman]

EUA..UK..AUSTRÁLIA...CANADÁ...PORTUGAL?

[Rui Elias]

Já houve essa possibilidade, ou pelo menos Portugal recebeu uma proposta da Boeing nesse sentido, para a compra de 2 aparelhos.

Mas acho muito difícil que isso venha a acontecer.

Acho que o nosso futuro ao nível de projecção pelo ar através de transporte estratégico passará, para já pela continuidade do que temos, e depois, ou os C-130J, ou os A-400M.

E ainda falta saber de que quantidades estariamos a falar  

[Marauder]

Defence to Buy C-17 Airlifters  
 
 
(Source: Australian Minister for Defence; issued May 9, 2006)
 
 
 The 2006-07 Budget provides an additional $1.9 billion for the acquisition of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III as the preferred solution for a new responsive global airlift capability.  
 
I announced the selection of this aircraft to provide new heavy airlift capability for the Royal Australian Air Force on 3 March this year.  
 
This budget will also provide extra funding to operate the new aircraft, once the costs have been assessed and agreed. This will be in addition to the three per cent real growth provided by Government over the 15 year period 2001-02 to 2015-16.  
 
The Airlift Group will acquire up to four C-17s, with the first aircraft expected to arrive in Australia in December this year. I expect final delivery of the aircraft to be complete by mid 2008.  
 
The C-17 aircraft will significantly enhance the Australian Defence Force's airlift capability currently delivered by our C-130H and C-130J Hercules medium transports.  
 
It is the only aircraft currently in production that has a proven capability to meet the Australian Defence Force's operational needs. These C-17s will enable the rapid deployment of troops, combat vehicles, bulk stores, heavy equipment and helicopters at long distances.  
 
This new airlift capability will bolster the Australian Defence Force's contribution to domestic and international operations as well as to major disaster rescue and relief efforts. It will also provide significant opportunity for our aerospace industry here in Australia.  
 
As an example of the capability that the C-17 brings to the Australian Defence Force; in the event of a natural disaster striking the west coast of Australia, one C-17 could be dispatched from the east to the west coast, flying non-stop and carrying 58 tonnes of cargo. It could then offload and, without refuelling, return to the east coast ready for another load. In the same length of time, a C-130 aircraft would complete the one-way journey carrying only 13 tonnes of cargo. In this scenario, the C-17 could carry more than 4 times as much cargo as a C-130, in less than half the time.  
 
Furthermore, this acquisition means that instead of leasing aging Antonovs or waiting in queues for American airlift support, Australia will have its own heavy airlift capability, when we need it, and where we need it.  

de: defense-aerospace.com

[Rui Elias]

Bom para eles  

[Marauder]

Pois, mais cedo ou mais tarde deve surgir a confirmação com a assinatura do contracto para os C-17 canadianos.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... fer=canada

[luis filipe silva]

NATO pretende adquirir C 17.
http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2006/p06-107e.htm

[typhonman]

http://www.areamilitar.net/noticias/not ... ?nrnot=235

Só a nós é que servem os C130H..  

Será que também vamos entrar? Existe a possibilidade de estes meios ficarem baseados nos países de origem.. Além da base principal na Alemanha..

[Rui Elias]

Pelo que entendi, a concretizar-se essa compra, e apesar dos aparelhos a adquirir funcionarem em sistema de poole, sediada na Alemanha, acho que prioritáriamente serão colocados ao serviço dos novos membros da NATO que ainda não têm outros meios de projeção pelo ar, como sendo os países do leste euopeu.

Portugal mais uma vez ficará de fora, e na lista de espera sempre que precise de transportar algo.

Eu por mim já ficaria satisfeito se a nossa esquadra de C-130H subisse de 6 para 8 unidades, já que 2 C-17 para Portugal é infelizmente uma miragem.

Embora acredite que a compra de 2 C-17, mantendo-se uma esquadra básica de 5 ou 6 C-130H acabasse por sair mais barata, que um programas de compra de alguns A-400M, que verdadeiramente não estão no patamar do C-17.

[Rui Elias]

First Boeing C-17 for Royal Australian Air Force Takes Maiden Flight


ST. LOUIS, Nov. 08, 2006 -- The first Boeing [NYSE: BA] C-17 Globemaster III for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) completed its maiden flight Nov. 7, logging a major milestone in preparation for the delivery to the RAAF later this month.



With a gross takeoff weight of 458,000 lbs. (207,745 kg.), the advanced airlifter lifted off from the Long Beach Airport, Calif., at 11:03 a.m. Pacific time and flew for more than five hours before returning to the facility where Boeing assembles and tests C-17s prior to delivery.

"It was an exceptional first flight," said Boeing C-17 Production Test Pilot Joel Brown, who was at the controls when the aircraft lifted off. "Based on today's performance, I think the RAAF will be extremely pleased with this airplane when they take delivery on Nov. 28."

The flight began by heading west over Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands, performing initial functional checks over the Pacific Ocean. The C-17 then headed east and flew to Edwards Air Force Base where Brown and his crew continued to check the aircraft's systems and performed three touch-and-go landings. The flight completed 80 percent of the functional checks required prior to delivery, including shutdown and restart of engines, one at a time, and testing of emergency backup systems.

"Everything felt great," Brown said. "There were no surprises. The airplane performed exactly as expected. With sunny skies and no turbulence, it was an absolutely perfect day to fly Australia's first C-17 for the first time."

Brown was joined on the flight by a U.S. Air Force pilot, a Boeing and U.S. Air Force loadmaster, and three Boeing support personnel to track the aircraft's functional checks. During the flight, Brown and the other crew members completed a series of checks to ensure the aircraft complies with all U.S. Air Force requirements. Other than the aircraft's unique Australian markings, the new C-17 is identical to the U.S. Air Force C-17s that Boeing is now manufacturing.

The first of four Australian C-17s will be delivered from Long Beach in late November. After a welcome ceremony in Canberra, Australia's capital city, the RAAF's first C-17 will arrive at RAAF Base Amberley, near Brisbane, in early December.

Texto:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/
Foto:
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/