Senate backs Air Force deal to keep Boeing C-17 going

Posted on: Nov. 11th, 2005 || Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

WASHINGTON — The Senate approved a measure Thursday that would keep open the production line for Boeing's C-17 transport plane.

An amendment to the defense-authorization bill, sponsored by Sens. Jim Talent, R-Mo., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., would authorize the Air Force to purchase up to 42 new C-17s and create a new structure for the Pentagon to assess the need to build more lift aircraft.

The C-17 program appeared in danger after a recent draft of the Defense Department's Mobility Capabilities Study recommended buying no C-17s beyond the 180 planned. With the last of the C-17s scheduled for delivery in 2008, production would start to wind down as soon as next year.

"The C-17 is the finest military transport in the world," said Talent, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "This amendment is crucial to ensure that the United States has the airlift we need to deploy and sustain our forces overseas."

Read the full article

• Boeing's C-130 AMP Flight Marks Completion of Software Development
• Navy UCAS Demonstrator On Track for First Flight
• Lockheed Demonstrates Intelligent Autonomous Control of Multiple UAVs
• Russian Navy aircraft test new equipment over the Arctic
• Russia may push forward with S-300 sales to Iran
• Boeing, US Navy Offer Super Hornet for Denmark Fighter Competition
• Boeing Awarded US Army Contract for 191 CH-47F Chinook Helicopters
• The Netherlands shows interest in Gripen
• 4th F-35 Lightning II Rolls Out As Production Line Fills Up At Lockheed
• Lockheed Martin C-5m Super Galaxy Completes Flight Test
• Air Guard Predator pilots increase combat air patrols
• Predator passes 400,000 hours
• Future Predator/Reaper Formal Training Unit announced
• Saab/Gripen team completes Hungarian offset contract
• South African Gripen deliveries on track