Boeing has instructed its suppliers to resume the production of long-lead items for the C-17 strategic transport, anticipating a supplemental order for the US Air Force and additional export deals with NATO and potentially also the UK.
NATO on 20 June advanced its plans to field a pooled fleet of three or four C-17s by approving the establishment of two management bodies to be tasked with overseeing the purchase and support of the aircraft on behalf of 17 nations. The move represents an advance over an initial Strategic Airlift Capability proposal to acquire the aircraft for use by 13 countries, but also outlines a 12-month delay to an earlier plan to have the first NATO C-17 in use by mid-2007 (Flight International, 19-25 September 2006).
Speaking at the show, Boeing C-17 programme manager Dave Bowman described the deal as "a challenging process", but added: "I'm optimistic of signing a contract later this year." The deal is expected to follow approval from the US Congress to fund the production of a further 10 C-17s for the US Air Force under a follow-on purchase worth $2.4 billion. The order will boost the USAF's total fleet of C-17s to 200, the 166th of which was delivered last week.
Although neither order is yet finalised, Bowman said: "If we let it go to October it may be unaffordable, so we are going on risk and have told our suppliers to buy long-lead items for 10 new aircraft." Three white tail aircraft are already being produced in anticipation of the NATO deal.
Further details of renewed UK interest in the C-17 have not been revealed, but the Royal Air Force has previously expressed an interest in boosting its eventual fleet of five aircraft - the last of which entered assembly at Long Beach, California, last week and will enter service next February - to eight or nine aircraft.
But Boeing has identified other potential export customers, including Qatar, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. "The international interest is strong, but not imminent," said Bowman. Australia has so far received two of its four C-17s and Canada will accept its first of four on 9 August.
Meanwhile, Boeing cannot commit to development of the BC-17 commercial freighter variant without a long-term commitment from the USAF, said Bowman, as US Federal Aviation Administration certification will take up to three years to complete. "We cannot close talks and agree to BC-17s without the USAF as a backstop. We have to have a sustainable build rate."
Source: Flight International
