Aviation Week | By Robert Wall | 22 December 2009

UAE C-17 Deal Advances

LONDON — The United Arab Emirates plan to procure four Boeing C-17 airlifters has taken another step forward with the formal foreign military sale (FMS) notification now submitted to Congress for parts of the transaction.

The FMS deal would cover the logistics element of the acquisition, with the aircraft to be bought under direct commercial sales terms. The value of the logistics contract is estimated at up to $501 million.

The Pentagon says the UAE is considering use of the airlifters not just for regional transport, but also “to support U.S. and NATO airlift requirements in Afghanistan.” The UAE military already has been quietly supporting Afghanistan operations, having deployed unmanned aircraft to Helmand province to provide additional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capacity to the International Security Assistance Force.

The UAE would be the second buyer of C-17s in the Middle East; Qatar this year took delivery of two C-17s, and could grow its fleet to four units. Saudi Arabia is also seen as a potential customer, with Boeing indicating the entire Middle East market for the airlifter could total 20 units.

The U.S. also is in talks with India about potential acquisition of the airlifter and the U.K. recently announced plans for buying another C-17; the Royal Air Force would like to buy one C-17 beyond that.

Photo: Boeing

Source: Aviation Week