Obama welcomes agreement on purchase of heavylift cargo planes

New Delhi, Nov 8 (PTI) US President Barack Obama Monday
welcomed India's "preliminary agreement" to purchase 10 C-17
Globemaster heavylift cargo planes for its air force saying it
will benefit both the countries.
"Today Iam pleased to welcome India's preliminary
agreement to purchase 10 C-17 cargo planes, which will enhance
Indian capabilities and support 22,000 jobs back in the US,"
he said while addressing a joint press conference with Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh here.
The aircraft is manufactured by American defence major
Boeing at its facility in Long Beach, California.
On a lookout for a strategic heavylift transport
aircraft, the IAF had shortlisted the C-17, which can carry
loads of over 75-80 tonnes and take-off from short runways.
India is planning to purchase the aircraft through the
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, under which the contract
is finalised between the two governments.
India had sought to purchase the aircraft and the US
Government had sent the proposal to its Congress, which
cleared it in June this year.
India is set to acquire USD five billion worth US
defence equipment including C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift
transport aircraft, over 150 ultra-light howitzers and Harpoon
missiles.
India has till now purchased C-130J Hercules and P-8I
maritime surveillance aircraft and an old Landing Platform
Deck (LPD) INS Jalashwa (erstwhile USS Trenton) from the US.