Article Posted on : - Apr 13, 2015

CANBERRA (BNS): The Australian Government has approved the purchase of two additional C-17A Globemaster III military transport aircraft to bolster the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) existing fleet of six such strategic airlifters.

The two new aircraft and the associated equipment and facilities will be acquired at a cost of Australian $1 billion (US$ 761 million).

The two additional C-17s will provide vital heavy airlift support to a range of regional and global coalition operations and greatly increase Australia's capacity to provide rapid and effective disaster rescue and relief and humanitarian aid, an official statement said on April 10.