Australia’s national security committee has considered a purchase of four Boeing C-17s following an unsolicited proposal from the US manufacturer earlier this year.
The potential deal was among a number of new capability proposals considered by the committee during a 2 December meeting devoted to resolving cost and scheduling issues resulting from a revised 10-year Australian defence force capability plan for 2006-16, due for release early next year.
Lockheed Martin says it is also in talks with Australia about a “wide range of options for modernisation of their airlift fleet beyond the existing fleet of 12 C-130Js”.
Boeing says a new order for C-17s could result in deliveries to an international customer within 18 months to two years. However, any sale to Australia would be too small to relieve the C-17’s looming production line crisis, which could see costly work stoppages from January if the current US Air Force programme is not extended beyond 180 aircraft.
Well-placed sources say the C-17 proposal was referred back to the Australian Department of Defence for further analysis, rather than being decided on immediately. Australian defence minister Robert Hill met the chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston, and air force chief Geoff Shepard on 5 December to discuss the possible acquisition.
Australia has a long-term requirement for a heavy airlifter after 2016, but the country’s defence headquarters has been conducting a new airlift requirements study this year. This is thought to have confirmed a requirement for a replacement light tactical airlifter and to have highlighted problems with the airframe life of the air force’s current C-130H fleet.
Boeing Australia, meanwhile, warns that its defence operations in southern Queensland and New South Wales could become unsustainable after 2010 because of the scheduled completion of work on the Royal Australian Air Force’s General Dynamics F-111 strike aircraft and Boeing 737 Wedgetail airborne early warning programmes.
PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA & STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
