The Indian defense ministry signed the foreign military sales agreement with the US government to acquire 10 C-17 transports by 2014, announced Boeing Wednesday. This “transaction reaffirms our close relationship of several decades with India and also highlights our commitment to the strategic partnership between the two countries,” stated Dinesh Keskar, president of Boeing’s India operations. Under the agreed framework, Boeing will deliver all 10 aircraft between 2013 and 2014. This transaction paves the way for the Indian air force to field the largest C-17 fleet outside of the United States. Congress approved the sale last May; the Indian government signed off on it earlier this month. Indian interest in the C-17 was reaffirmed last June during an operational trial of the aircraft in India, proving it met IAF requirements. The Economic Times, an Indian publication, reported that the IAF might seek to acquire up to eight additional C-17s at a later point.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.