Boeing delivered a second C-17 Globemaster III airlifter to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence at the C-17 programme’s final assembly facility in Long Beach.

The company is contracted to deliver a total of six C-17s to its UAE customer – four this year and two in 2012.

“Congratulations to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence on accepting delivery of their second C-17,” said Bob Ciesla, Boeing C-17 programme manager.

“The leadership of the UAE team has resulted in incredible progress on this program. We look forward to continuing to work closely together as we deliver the remainder of the fleet.”

The C-17 is the only aircraft capable of performing all of the UAE’s airlift requirements – strategic and tactical, military and humanitarian, brigade airdrop and aeromedical evacuation – using either standard runways or short, austere airfields, a statement said.

It can transport large payloads across vast ranges without refueling and operate in extremely hot and cold climates. With a full payload of 170,000 pounds, a C-17 can fly 2,400 nautical miles and land in 3,000 feet or less, according to the statement.

“We’re proud to say that UAE 02 is mission-ready,” said Rich Cutting, Boeing UAE C-17 programme manager. “UAE 01, delivered just one month ago, has already logged several missions. And that’s what the C-17 is all about – being ready to perform any mission, anywhere, on a moment’s notice.”

As a member of the worldwide C-17 “virtual fleet,” the UAE’s C-17s will be supported through Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership, a proven multinational performance-based logistics programme.

Through the virtual fleet concept, C-17 customers receive comprehensive worldwide logistics support (spares, support equipment, tech orders, sustaining engineering, and on-site field teams) through use of shared resources across the entire fleet.

The programme ensures high levels of mission readiness by providing all C-17 customers – regardless of fleet size – cost-effective access to an extensive support programme, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service