More C-17s may be bought; tanker/transport planes needed now

Posted on: Mar. 10th, 2006 || Source: aimpoints.hq.af.mil | E-mail Article | Print Article

The Air Force may have to buy more than the 180 C-17 transport planes now envisioned because C-17s are wearing out rapidly in the war, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England told senators.

The adjustment might be made in the budget for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2008.The number of extra C-17s is likely to be modest, perhaps on the order of 10 planes, England later told Defense Today.

The Air Force is unlikely to drop or reduce a program to modernize C-5 transport planes in favor of buying still more C-17 transports from the Boeing Co., England told key senators.Gen. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, had mentioned such a C-17/C-5 tradeoff.Rather, the Air Force should move quickly to procure new aerial refueling tanker planes that also would provide transport capabilities, England told the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC).

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