News Review: RAAF to acquire more C-17s instead of C-130Js | ADM Apr 2011

Defence is investigating the purchase of an additional C-17A Globemaster III airlifter under a US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement, according to minister for defence Stephen Smith. But if it buys an extra C-17 that means it won’t need the two extra C-130J Hercules it had planned to acquire under Phase 1 of Project Air 8000.

Smith told reporters at Avalon 1 March that Australia has sent a Letter of Request to the US formally seeking cost and availability information.

“I’ve spoken with the [US] Deputy Under Secretary for Air Force, Heidi Grant, who’s here in Avalon, of our intention, our enthusiasm to pick up another C-17,” Smith said. “We’ve indicated that we’re keen to pick it up as quickly as we can. Realistically that will be in the course of this year.” The RAAF currently operates four C-17As, delivered between 2006 and 2008, which provide it for the first time with a global airlift capability.

Recent floods and cyclones in Queensland and the earthquake in Christchurch have demonstrated the C?17s are an essential part of Australia’s capacity to respond to natural disasters within Australia and the wider region, said Smith.

One C?17A can carry the same payload as up to four C-130s in a single lift and cover twice the distance in three-quarters of the time, he said, adding the acquisition of an additional C-17 would almost certainly obviate any need to buy two additional C-130J-30s. 

“We’re effectively doing the due diligence on availability, price and the like,” Smith said. “It’s on the public record that when we purchased our four current C-17s they cost us in the order of $2 billion, so you’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars. But we think it’s value for effort, value for money and it calibrates better, we think, the mix of our airlift and the capability, also to do large tasks very quickly, as illustrated both in Cyclone Yasi and in Christchurch recently.”

The Government will make a decision about a fifth C-17A based on capability, cost and schedule assessments following receipt of cost and availability information from the US, Smith told reporters. The C-17 production line is due to close soon, which is likely to have prompted defence to recommend an early decision to buy an additional aircraft while the line was still open.