Editing Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (section)

===Royal Australian Air Force===
{{main|Boeing C-17 Globemaster III in Australian service}}
[[File:RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III TSV Zhu.jpg|thumb|A RAAF C-17 in 2010]]

The [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) began investigating an acquisition of strategic transport aircraft in 2005.<ref name=McLaughlin_p40-41>McLaughlin 2008, pp. 40–41.</ref> In late 2005, the then [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Minister for Defence]] [[Robert Hill (Australian diplomat)|Robert Hill]] stated that such aircraft were being considered due to the limited availability of strategic airlift aircraft from partner nations and air freight companies. The C-17 was considered to be favored over the A400M as it was a "proven aircraft" and in production. One major RAAF requirement was the ability to airlift the [[Australian Army|Army's]] M1 Abrams tanks; another requirement was immediate delivery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/australia-to-spend-up-to-15-bn-on-4-c17s-updated-01971/|title=Heavy Lifting Down Under: Australias Growing C-17 Fleet|work=defenseindustrydaily.com|access-date=1 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317100743/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/australia-to-spend-up-to-15-bn-on-4-c17s-updated-01971/|archive-date=17 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Though unstated, commonality with the USAF and the RAF was also considered advantageous. RAAF aircraft were ordered directly from the USAF production run and are identical to American C-17s even in paint scheme, the only difference being the [[Military aircraft insignia|national marking]]s, allowing deliveries to commence within nine months of commitment to the program.<ref name=awst_20061211>"Stock Standard". ''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]'', 11 December 2006.</ref>

On 2 March 2006, the Australian government announced the purchase of three aircraft and one option with an entry into service date of 2006.<ref name=avweek_20060313/> In July 2006, Boeing was awarded a fixed price contract to deliver four C-17s for {{USD|780M}} ({{AUD|1bn}}).<ref name=DID_Australia_C-17>[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/australia-to-spend-up-to-15-bn-on-4-c17s-updated-01971/ "Heavy Lifting Down Under: Australia Buys C-17s."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006041203/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/australia-to-spend-up-to-15-bn-on-4-c17s-updated-01971/ |date=6 October 2011}} ''Defense Industry Daily'', 27 November 2012.</ref> Australia also signed a US$80.7M contract to join the global 'virtual fleet' C-17 sustainment program;<ref name=McLaughlin_p42>McLaughlin 2008, p. 42.</ref> RAAF C-17s receive the same upgrades as the USAF's fleet.<ref name=McLaughlin_p46>McLaughlin 2008, p. 46.</ref>

The RAAF took delivery of its first C-17 in a ceremony at Boeing's plant at Long Beach, California on 28 November 2006.<ref>[http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/c17/news/2006/q4/061128b_nr.html "Boeing delivers Royal Australian Air Force's First C-17."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629095605/http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/c17/news/2006/q4/061128b_nr.html |date=29 June 2011}} ''Boeing'', 28 November 2010. Retrieved: 13 August 2010.</ref> Several days later the aircraft flew from [[Hickam Air Force Base]], Hawaii to [[Fairbairn, Canberra|Defence Establishment Fairbairn]], Canberra, arriving on 4 December 2006. The aircraft was formally accepted in a ceremony at Fairbairn shortly after arrival.<ref>[http://www.defence.gov.au/minister/49tpl.cfm?CurrentId=6212 "First C-17 arrives in Australia."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502225152/http://www.defence.gov.au/minister/49tpl.cfm?CurrentId=6212 |date=2 May 2012}} ''Australian Government: The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson, Minister for Defence'', 4 December 2006.</ref> The second aircraft was delivered to the RAAF on 11 May 2007 and the third was delivered on 18 December 2007. The fourth Australian C-17 was delivered on 19 January 2008.<ref>[http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/1133/1/ "Air Force's C-17 fleet delivered on time, on budget."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929150846/http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/1133/1/ |date=29 September 2011}} ''[[Greg Combet|The Hon. Greg Combet MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement]]'', 18 January 2008. Retrieved: 1 July 2011.</ref> All the Australian C-17s are operated by [[No. 36 Squadron RAAF|No. 36 Squadron]] and are based at [[RAAF Base Amberley]] in Queensland.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080329050815/http://www.raaf.gov.au/aircraft/globemaster.htm "C-17 Globemaster heavy transport."] ''Royal Australian Air Force'', 29 March 2008.</ref>

On 18 April 2011, Boeing announced that Australia had signed an agreement with the U.S. government to acquire a fifth C-17 due to an increased demand for humanitarian and disaster relief missions.<ref>[http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1709 "Boeing, Australia Announce Order for 5th C-17 Globemaster III."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717093149/http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1709 |date=17 July 2011}} ''Boeing Press Release'', 18 April 2011.</ref> The aircraft was delivered to the RAAF on 14 September 2011.<ref>[http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/09/fifth-raaf-c-17-delivered/ "Fifth RAAF C-17 delivered."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230103510/http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/09/fifth-raaf-c-17-delivered/ |date=30 December 2011}} ''Australian Aviation'', 23 September 2011. Retrieved: 15 September 2011.</ref> On 23 September 2011, Australian Minister for Defence Materiel [[Jason Clare]] announced that the government was seeking information from the U.S. about the price and delivery schedule for a sixth Globemaster.<ref>
Clare, Jason. [http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2011/09/23/minister-for-defence-materiel-sixth-c-17a-globemaster-iii-–-letter-of-request/ "Sixth C-17A Globemaster III – Letter of Request."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609111644/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2011/09/23/minister-for-defence-materiel-sixth-c-17a-globemaster-iii-%E2%80%93-letter-of-request/ |date=9 June 2016}} ''Department of Defence''. Retrieved: 23 September 2011.
</ref> In November 2011, Australia requested a sixth C-17 through the U.S. [[Foreign Military Sales]] program; it was ordered in June 2012, and was delivered on 1 November 2012.<ref name="Purchase of additional C17">
[http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2012/03/19/minister-for-defence-and-minister-for-defence-materiel-joint-media-release-purchase-of-additional-c17/ "Purchase of additional C17."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321033447/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2012/03/19/minister-for-defence-and-minister-for-defence-materiel-joint-media-release-purchase-of-additional-c17/ |date=21 March 2012}} ''Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Materiel – joint media release'', 20 March 2012.
</ref><ref name=DID_Heavy_Lifting_Down_Under>[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/australia-to-spend-up-to-15-bn-on-4-c17s-updated-01971/ "Heavy Lifting Down Under: Australia Buys C-17s."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006041203/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/australia-to-spend-up-to-15-bn-on-4-c17s-updated-01971/ |date=6 October 2011}} ''defenseindustrydaily.com'', 20 June 2012. Retrieved: 10 July 2012.</ref>

In August 2014, Defence Minister [[David Johnston (Australian politician)|David Johnston]] announced the intention to purchase one or two additional C-17s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/prime-minister-tony-abbott-to-fly-worldwide-nonstop-on-airbus-kc30a/story-fncynjr2-1227023370734|title=Prime Minister Tony Abbott to fly worldwide non-stop on Airbus KC-30A|publisher=[[News.com.au]]|date=14 August 2014|access-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929015609/http://www.news.com.au/national/prime-minister-tony-abbott-to-fly-worldwide-nonstop-on-airbus-kc30a/story-fncynjr2-1227023370734|archive-date=29 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> On 3 October 2014, Johnston announced the government's approval to buy two C-17s at a total cost of {{USD|770M}} ({{AUD|1bn}}).<ref name="gw2015">{{citation |first=Greg |last=Waldron |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/australia-confirms-order-for-two-additional-c-17s-411041/ |title=Australia confirms order for two additional C-17s |work=[[Flightglobal]] |publisher=Reed Business Information |date=10 April 2015 |access-date=10 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413035241/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/australia-confirms-order-for-two-additional-c-17s-411041/ |archive-date=13 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[United States Congress]] approved the sale under the Foreign Military Sales program.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/technology/design/abbott-government-to-spend-500-million-on-two-new-boeing-c17-heavylift-transport-jets/story-fnpjxnlk-1227078035546 Abbott Government to spend $500 million on two new Boeing C-17 heavy-lift transport jets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007054116/http://www.news.com.au/technology/design/abbott-government-to-spend-500-million-on-two-new-boeing-c17-heavylift-transport-jets/story-fnpjxnlk-1227078035546 |date=7 October 2014}}. Retrieved on 12 October 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/australia-to-buy-up-to-four-more-c-17s-404418/ Australia to buy up to four more C-17s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008034555/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/australia-to-buy-up-to-four-more-c-17s-404418/ |date=8 October 2014}}. Retrieved on 12 October 2014.</ref> Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed in April 2015 that two additional aircraft were to be ordered, with both delivered by 4 November 2015;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/04/pm-confirms-two-extra-c-17s-for-the-raaf/|title=PM confirms two extra C-17s for the RAAF|publisher=Australian Aviation|date=10 April 2015|access-date=15 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424023737/http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/04/pm-confirms-two-extra-c-17s-for-the-raaf/|archive-date=24 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> these added to the six C-17s it had {{as of|2015|lc=y}}.<ref name="gw2015" />