C-17 Program, Under Threat, Gets a Lift from the US Senate

A narrow escape?(click to view full) In early November, Bloomberg and other news services were reporting that a recent draft of the Defense Department’s Mobility Capabilities Study recommended ending purchases of C-17 Globemaster IIIs beyond the 180 currently budgeted. This is 40 planes less than the Air Force’s stated requirements of 220 aircraft, and DID has also noted that the existing fleet is wearing out prematurely due to its accumulation of flying hours over Kosovo, in international humanitarian missions, and during the War on Terror. Without additional orders, however, Aviation Week reported an estimated shutdown of Boeing’s C-17 production line in 2008. While there is admittedly an element of contractor influence games here, if the production contract ends and no further orders are expected, options tend to dwindle somewhat. Late last week, however, the US Senate approved a measure that would keep the C-17 production line open. (click to view full) An amendment to the Senate’s FY 2006 defense authorization bill H.R. 2863 sponsored by Sens. Jim Talent [R-MO] and Joe Lieberman [D-CT] passed 89-8, authorizing the US Air Force to purchase up to 42 new C-17s. According t Sen. Talent’s office, the Talent-Lieberman amendment also includes two additional provisions. […]