Fifth RAAF C-17 on its way

Australia has signed an agreement with the US government to acquire a fifth Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifter.

The Foreign Military Sale allows the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to expand its C-17 fleet as it faces an increased demand for humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

Due to the RAAF’s immediate need for an additional airlifter, the US Air Force has approved Australia’s request to take delivery of its fifth C-17 in August.

The airlifter will be assigned to RAAF Base Amberley’s 36 Squadron, near Brisbane.

RAAF C-17s supported relief efforts to earthquake- and tsunami-affected regions in Japan under Operation Pacific Assist for nearly two weeks in March.

The RAAF delivered personnel and more than 1 million pounds of cargo - including food and water, vehicles, disaster relief equipment, and pumps - to help cool the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Weeks earlier, the RAAF supported relief efforts in Christchurch, NZ, following anearthquake there, and to several communities in Queensland, Australia, that were affected by flooding.

Boeing provides support to the RAAF’s C-17s through the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership, a Performance-Based Logistics program that includes an extensive support network.