 Since
its first flight in 1991, Boeing has delivered 89 C-17s to the U.S. Air
Force, whose personnel have amassed more than 300,000 hours in the aircraft,
flying global airlift in support of both combat and humanitarian missions.
In August 2002, the U.S. Air Force extended its total C-17 order to 180,
by committing to an additional 60 C-17s. This order means Boeing will design,
build and deliver C-17s through at least 2008. By Mid-August 2003, 111
C-17s had been delivered, 107 to the U.S. Air Force and four to the United
Kingdom Royal Air Force.
The U.S.
Transportation Command has identified the need for at least 42 C-17s
beyond the current multi-year procurement. The Department
of Defense plans to address this requirement in future years' budget
planning processes. Part of the Department of Defense planning may
include retiring C-5A
Galaxy transports and replacing them with C-17s.
A proposal has been made in Congress which
would delay the C-5A retirement decision into 2007, well beyond the fiscal
year 2006 Budget cycle when the next C-17 follow-on procurement decision
will is expected to be made. Congress needs to develop an alternative
that encourages the Air Force to plan and budget in a timely and cost-effective
manner for procurement of follow-on C-17s. |
