The U.S. State Department has approved a sale to the United Kingdom covering sustainment support for the Royal Air Force’s fleet of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, with an estimated value of $861 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed the certification to Congress on 26 August.
The request includes contractor logistics support, engine components, spare parts, modifications, computer program identification numbers, consumables, repair and return services, software, technical documentation, and both U.S. government and contractor engineering and logistics assistance.
According to the DSCA notice, “The proposed sale will improve the United Kingdom’s capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring the operational readiness of the Royal Air Force. Its C-17 aircraft fleet provides strategic airlift capabilities that directly support U.S. and coalition operations around the world.”
Washington stressed that the sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region but would reinforce a key NATO ally’s ability to project power and sustain operations. “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a key NATO Ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the DSCA statement said.
The Royal Air Force currently operates eight C-17s, which form the backbone of the UK’s strategic airlift capability, regularly supporting global deployments and humanitarian operations.
The principal contractor for the sustainment package will be Boeing, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. DSCA noted that no offset agreements have been proposed at this stage and that implementation will not require the permanent stationing of additional U.S. government or contractor personnel in the UK.
The notice makes clearthat the description and dollar value reflect the highest estimated cost. Final figures will depend on negotiations and the eventual sales agreement.
8 is that all we have. I could say a lot more on this but what would be the point. Bye bye.
Pretty good number actually.
Considering we first only had 4, leased.
We now own 8.
I’ll take it.
Bye bye 👋
It’s a shame there isn’t a realistic chance of buying more. Bye Bye 🖖🖖
This shows why we get so little bang for the £60 billion we spend a year. $861 million for technical support for just 8 planes. This is why scrapping C130 was the right move and getting rid of C17 should be a serious consideration now A400M is meeting its performance requirements. Justin Bronk at RUSI has commented heavily on this.
These aircraft are of very little use in a European conflict and we don’t have the luxury of building the RAF around expeditionary warfare or wars of choice in Asia any more. We desperately need to atleast double the number of manned combat aircraft in Europe.
The Boeing C-17A Globemaster 3 is far too useful to get rid of
Agree. Madness. It is needed, a capability few have. It is good to have them.
C17 is super useful.
These are some of our most useful and capable assets. They have provided outstanding service. And will do for many years to come.
Exactly. A nightmare thought to just drop them.
Yep bonkers. The real travesty of the kit we buy from abroad is that it’s money gone from the economy, no jobs, no investment, just money handed over. If you do things domestically or even with a European partner then it might be more pricey but the cash stays in the economy to a certain extent…..when the US talk about propping is up it’s bs, we pay through the nose for everything they do
The C-17 is useful. It’s just built by Boeing, whom was caught inflating markups on products and parts for the C-17.
Dare I say, the A400M has proven the company capable of building a similar sized plane with similar mission, now they just need to make it capable of handling the weight the C-17 can and you would have a Strategic Lifter that could replace the C-17 going into the future. And the export market alone would be lucrative for other C-17 operators and new ones.
Seeing big service contracts but not a lot else by the MOD, yes logistics are vastly important but come on its all we seem to do. A whole 8 aircraft wow, sad state of affairs but no point commenting any more it will never get better. The top brass will simply say make do and mend and keep quite. Britain is ok in a war as long as we loose no kit as we have next to nothing in reserve. As long any enemy follow those rules we should be ok. 148 C3 tanks springs to mind, 14 Archer SPG’s, etc etc
I agree, we seem to sacrifice combat power on the alter of logistics without asking the obvious point of why bother having logistics if you have no forces to support.
Obvious answer is that the logistics are required to feed the MIC and the MIC is required to generate civilian jobs for over promoted public school boys.
Be nice to see some kit on the buying list, seems hold on it for about a year, i understand why with the review but seems as if the MOD feels we have no need to rush and drag our feet.
HMG are far to happy to subscribe to defence contracts like it’s Netflix, but just like Netflix these primarily American owned companies are too happy to increase the price every year. We land up paying far more in the long run and get less in return than if we would just do it in house, I get people say we just don’t have the skills anymore but we got to start somewhere.
That is where to money is made the spares and support contracts not the selling of the kit. The USA has us and a lot NATO over a barrel with their add on prices and restrictions etc, We would be better buy in house or at least in Europe. I do see Europe as whole moving away from US stuff for that main reason.
there extra 10% price increase going on any European purchase from the USA for Ukraine, so it would seem
The UK need to stop relying on the US so much, we have weakened ourselves because of this. When we make something groundbreaking the US threats us to give it then, tells us we can’t build it anymore and then we have to buy it from them. When then ask why we don’t have any weapons or equipment it’s because we give it away and then pay for it. This country uses to actually be something, now we are a weak poor excuse for a country, pretending to by what we once was.
Excellent, hopefully some of that money will go toward proper fencing to stop muppets strolling onto our air bases and spraying paint into them, this time.
US is going to put up proper fences around our airbases.. interesting
Hello.
Bye bye.
But just think how much money we will save when Drones take over this role.
Oh hang on🤔
Yep bonkers. The real travesty of the kit we buy from abroad is that it’s money gone from the economy, no jobs, no investment, just money handed over. If you do things domestically or even with a European partner then it might be more pricey but the cash stays in the economy to a certain extent…..when the US talk about propping is up it’s bs, we pay through the nose for everything they do