Boeing today announced that the UK Ministry of Defence has signed an agreement for the acquisition of one C-17 Globemaster III, bringing the Royal Air Force (RAF) fleet of the world’s most advanced airlifters to a total of eight. Boeing is scheduled to deliver the eighth C-17 later this year.If the Royal Air Force is smart, they'll push hard interoperability with the USAF and try to get a dozen of these.
“The tremendous teamwork of Boeing and U.S. Government officials has made it possible to announce this acquisition so quickly after we determined the need for this additional C-17,” said UK Ministry of Defence Head of Commercial for Air Support Robin Philip. “This C-17 will be a welcome addition to the RAF fleet.”
RAF C-17s had surpassed 50,000 flight hours in December 2009, when the UK announced its intent to purchase a seventh aircraft. By the time the seventh C-17 was delivered in November 2010, the fleet had logged more than 60,000 flight hours. The fleet has now surpassed 74,000 flight hours – a rate 15 percent above planned use.
“We have watched with great pride over the past decade as the RAF, our first international C-17 customer, has supported global peacekeeping missions and responded to the needs of millions affected by natural disasters around the world,” said Bob Ciesla, Boeing vice president and C-17 program manager.
“We understand the need to move quickly to bring this contract to completion,” said Liz Pace, Boeing C-17 UK program manager. “This additional order is a testament to our strong relationship with the UK as well as to the aircraft’s advanced capability, flexibility and reliability.”
The RAF C-17s are operated by 99Squadron at RAF Brize Norton. C-17s are used to support Operation Herrick, the transport of large equipment and troops to Afghanistan. RAF C-17s also delivered relief supplies following devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and provided humanitarian relief following floods in Pakistan.
As a member of the worldwide C-17 “virtual fleet,” RAF C-17s are supported through the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program, a Performance-Based Logistics agreement. The GISP arrangement provides the highest airlift mission capable rate at one of the lowest costs per flying hour.
Boeing has delivered 241 C-17s worldwide, including 216 to the U.S. Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserve units. A total of 25 C-17s have been delivered to Australia, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. India has 10 C-17s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014.
Libya showed the weakness of land based air despite the best efforts of air power apologist. If your target is three hours flying distance away and if it can move then you might just be burning aviation gas.
The modern battlefield is not set. Targets are mobile and you need the flexibility that being based as close to your targets as possible to give you the response time needed to make a difference on a fluid battle field.
Libya showed that the model used in that conflict just didn't measure up.
This move to increase strategic reach, make the RAF more expeditionary...make the RAF more relevant is nothing but predictable.
But in the end, the RAF just got a new toy. Lets see what they do with it.
Hello Solomon,
ReplyDeleteyou have hit the nail on the head.
The long range air power model does not work.
The Globemaster has performed very well in British service.
As many as 7 out of 7 C17s can be available for use at any one time.
That is extraordinary for a Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) aircraft.
The E3D Sentry fleet often has only 2 out of 7 aircraft available and the VC10 fleet is no better.
GrandLogistics.
you can take credit for cementing my views on the subject. i always thought but never was able to state clearly why sea based air was so essential in the Libyan conflict.
ReplyDeleteTHE POST YOU DID LAID IT OUT NICELY! VERY WELL DONE!!
Availability rates of aircraft have about as much to do with whether they are owned by one service as another or whether they operate from sea or land as whether my watch likes buttered toast.
ReplyDeleteThe C17 was purchased to support the air bridge to Afghanistan by the way and the RAF Chinooks, as an other example, achieve the highest availability rate of any operator.
Just sayin, wouldn't want facts to get in the way of a good rant would we.
Hello Think Defence,
ReplyDeletehave you got your inter service rivalry head on again?
I sometimes think you see slights to your beloved Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) where none are intended.
There was no suggestion that the very poor availability of the Sentry and VC10 (and the Tristar for that matter) was caused by the Royal Air Force.
They are both very old aircraft which should be in a museum.
The C17 Globemaster is a modern design and the airframes are still young.
As you quite rightly pointed out it would perform as well in the hands of the Army Air Corps as it does in the Hands of the Royal Air Force.
GrandLogistics.
ooh GL...i see what you did there!
ReplyDeleteHello Solomon,
ReplyDeleteI know,I know,I couldn't help it.
I put a capital "H" in "hands".
If you are interested in seeing some 2010 numbers on this,have a look at this link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110203/text/110203w0003.htm
About half way down the page you will find the figures for the C17,Tristar and VC10's availability.
If an aircraft is "fit for purpose" it is available for use.
Very roughly,the availability in 2010 is about 75% for the C17,50% for the VC10 and 30% for the Tristar in that year.
I have seen better figures than those for the C17 in other periods,up to 100% "fit for purpose".
GrandLogistics.