Australian Minister for Defence, The 2006-07 Budget provides an additional $1.9 billion for the acquisition of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III as the preferred solution for a new responsive global airlift capability.
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I announced the selection of this aircraft to provide new heavy airlift capability for the Royal Australian Air Force on 3 March this year.
This budget will also provide extra funding to operate the new aircraft, once the costs have been assessed and agreed. This will be in addition to the three per cent real growth provided by Government over the 15 year period 2001-02 to 2015-16.
The Airlift Group will acquire up to four C-17s, with the first aircraft expected to arrive in Australia in December this year. I expect final delivery of the aircraft to be complete by mid 2008.
The C-17 aircraft will significantly enhance the Australian Defence Force's airlift capability currently delivered by our C-130H and C-130J Hercules medium transports.
It is the only aircraft currently in production that has a proven capability to meet the Australian Defence Force's operational needs. These C-17s will enable the rapid deployment of troops, combat vehicles, bulk stores, heavy equipment and helicopters at long distances.
This new airlift capability will bolster the Australian Defence Force's contribution to domestic and international operations as well as to major disaster rescue and relief efforts. It will also provide significant opportunity for our aerospace industry here in Australia.
As an example of the capability that the C-17 brings to the Australian Defence Force; in the event of a natural disaster striking the west coast of Australia, one C-17 could be dispatched from the east to the west coast, flying non-stop and carrying 58 tonnes of cargo. It could then offload and, without refuelling, return to the east coast ready for another load. In the same length of time, a C-130 aircraft would complete the one-way journey carrying only 13 tonnes of cargo. In this scenario, the C-17 could carry more than 4 times as much cargo as a C-130, in less than half the time.
Furthermore, this acquisition means that instead of leasing aging Antonovs or waiting in queues for American airlift support, Australia will have its own heavy airlift capability, when we need it, and where we need it.
