The Royal Australian Air Force has accepted its third C-17 from Boeing in a ceremony at the Long Beach production plant.
(credit: Australian Department of Defense) The aircraft will remain in the U.S. where it is being fitted with the Northrop Grumman Large-Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures self-protection system already installed on U.S. Air Force C-17s. The airlifter will then head home to Australia in February.
A fourth and final C-17 is due to be handed over to the RAAF in mid-January, and arrive in Australia in early March.
Australia has been heavily using its C-17s to support deployed forces in areas such as Afghanistan. The aircraft are based at RAAF Base Amberley and operated by No. 36 Squadron.
The first C-17 was handed over last year after a decision by the government in March 2006 to pursue the procurement.
