The United States Department of State has approved a potential $540-million sustainment package for Canada’s fleet of Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft.
The proposed deal covers maintenance support equipment, ground handling systems, spare parts, consumables, accessories, as well as repair and return services.
The package is designed to sustain the operational readiness of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s five C-17 aircraft, the first of which entered service in 2007. Boeing will act as the primary contractor for the program.
C-17 Globemaster III
Introduced in 1995, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III was developed for tactical and strategic airlift missions, including cargo transport, airdrop operations, and aeromedical evacuation.
The aircraft can transport up to 170,900 pounds (77,519 kilograms) of cargo or carry as many as 100 paratroopers, enabling rapid deployment of troops and equipment to forward operating locations or main bases.
Operated by a crew consisting of two pilots and a loadmaster, the C-17 is powered by four Pratt & Whitney PW2000 turbofan engines.
The aircraft has a maximum speed of 450 knots (833 kilometers/518 miles per hour), a range of 2,420 nautical miles (4,482 kilometers/2,785 miles), and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet (13,716 meters).
Beyond Canada and the United States, the C-17 is also operated by countries including Australia, India, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
