The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received its third Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a large, versatile military transport aircraft capable of carrying heavy, oversize loads long distances and landing on rough and unprepared surfaces.
Boeing is on track to deliver two more C-17s to the IAF this year, and five in 2014. The third plane joins the first and second India C-17 airlifters, which arrived in June and July, respectively.
Once India receives its full complement of ten aircraft, it will be the largest C-17 operator outside the United States.
In operation since 1991, the C-17 has been used in humanitarian and military missions around the world and recently surpassed 2.6 million flight hours.
Boeing has delivered 256 C-17s in all, including 222 to the US Air Force, 34 to Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace.