SOURCE: AFI
Boeing’s announcement of early discussions to restart the C-17 Globemaster III production line, prompted by demand from existing customers, has reignited interest from the Indian Air Force (IAF), according to a senior IAF official speaking to idrw.org. The IAF, which operates a fleet of 11 C-17s, is considering acquiring four to five additional brand-new units if production resumes, aiming to bolster its strategic airlift capabilities.
However, the official cautioned that the anticipated sharp increase in unit costs for 2025 could complicate plans to position the C-17 as a one-to-one replacement for the IAF’s aging fleet of Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft, which are slated for phased retirement starting in 2035. This development, discussed at the Paris Air Show in June 2025, underscores both the C-17’s enduring value and the challenges of modernizing India’s airlift capabilities amidst rising costs and evolving strategic needs.
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed strategic airlifter, is renowned for its ability to carry heavy payloads—up to 77.5 tons—over long distances and operate from short, austere runways. Since inducting its first C-17 in 2013, the IAF’s No. 81 Squadron (“Skylords”) at Hindon Air Force Station has relied on the aircraft for military operations, humanitarian missions, and disaster relief, including high-altitude deployments in Ladakh and rapid response during crises like the 2015 Nepal earthquake. The IAF’s 11 C-17s, delivered between 2013 and 2019 under a $4.7 billion Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal, have maintained near-100% serviceability, a stark contrast to the Il-76 fleet’s 38% average availability between 2010 and 2016, as noted in a 2017 CAG report.
Boeing halted C-17 production in 2015 after delivering 279 aircraft worldwide, including 222 to the U.S. Air Force (USAF), 11 to India, and others to Australia, Canada, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, the UK, and NATO’s Strategic Airlift Capability. However, growing global demand, driven by the C-17’s unmatched payload capacity and versatility, has prompted Boeing to explore restarting production. Torbjorn Sjogren, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Global Services-Government Services, confirmed “very early infancy” discussions with at least one international customer, with nations like Japan, India, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE expressing interest.
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