Boeing is expecting a good year for its at-risk C-17 strategic transport programme, with potential fresh sales to existing users the UK and the USA on the horizon, along with first-time purchases being awaited from NATO and an undisclosed nation.
"There's an opportunity to have a pretty good year on the programme," says Michael Marshall, the company's senior manager, international business development for global mobility systems.
Much of Boeing's optimism rests on a possible double-digit order for the C-17 which could be included as part of a March supplemental budget to support the Bush administration's "global war on terrorism", while the USAF has also listed the type among its unfunded priorities for fiscal year 2009. "We're cautiously optimistic of more airplanes coming from the USA," says Marshall.
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Boeing has delivered 171 of the USAF's planned 190 C-17s, with production at its Long Beach site in California to halt next year unless fresh sales are secured.
Speaking at the Singapore air show, Marshall underlined the importance of gaining a "solid USAF base" to underpin production of the C-17 at its current rate of 15 aircraft a year. However, the company is also "looking at what happens if we go to 12", he says. Although this would have a negative effect on the transport's unit cost, the company says the US dollar's current weak value means the aircraft "is more affordable than ever".
Export sales during 2008 could include a long-proposed deal for three NATO-operated C-17s, with one of these now expected to be acquired using funds supplied solely from the USA. Two aircraft could also be acquired by an undisclosed nation, which Marshall says is close to finalising a contract and has already had delivery slots allocated to it. Discussions have also taken place with the UK, which will take delivery of its fifth of six currently contracted aircraft on 22 February, with the nation believed to be interested in acquiring two further examples to boost its in-service fleet.
Boeing has also identified India as a possible future buyer of the C-17, and last October gave its air force a full briefing on the type's strategic lift capabilities. "The C-17 is tailor-made for India," says Marshall. However, with New Delhi expected to conclude a $1 billion contract for six Lockheed Martin C-130Js later this year and discussing options on six more, a short-term procurement appears unlikely.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
