Le Bourget, France Qatar has signed an agreement to purchase four of the last C-17 Globemasters, announced Boeing at the Paris Air Show. That means only one of the airlifts must still be sold before the assembly line closes later this year. “We are very pleased with the C-17s from Boeing and look forward to doubling our fleet to enhance worldwide operations,” said Gen. Ahmed Al-Malki, the deputy commander of the Qatar Emiri Air Force and chair of its airlift committee. Boeing officials said the additional C-17s will be used to support the QEAF’s transport, airdrop, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations requirements. Qatar was the first Middle Eastern customer to sign on to the C-17 program, receiving its first two in 2009 and two more in 2012.
Earlier this spring, the 388th Fighter Wing proved just 12 Airmen can operate an F-35 contingency location, refueling and rearming the fighters at spots across Georgia and South Carolina. The demonstration, part of exercise Agile Flag 23-1, marks yet another proof of concept for the Air Force’s plan to send…