Sixth C-17 delivered to Australia

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LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A sixth C-17 Globemaster III has been delivered to the Australian air force by Boeing in a ceremony at the company's assembly facility in California.

The contract for the aircraft, which Australia will use for humanitarian missions as well as military operations, was finalized in June.

"I am delighted to accept the sixth C-17 on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force," said Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Brown. "The C-17 is a capability that has improved Australia's reach locally, regionally and globally.

"Individually, the aircraft is impressive -- but as a fleet, it has fundamentally enhanced our strategic airlift agility to meet the Australian Defense Force Air Mobility requirements."

Boeing said it will provide after-delivery support to the Australian C-17 fleet as part of the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program Performance-Based Logistics agreement with the U.S. Air Force.

"The C-17 symbolizes the strength and the enduring nature of the partnership between Boeing and the Commonwealth of Australia," said Bob Ciesla, Boeing's vice president, Airlift, and C-17 program manager. "We look forward to supporting the RAAF and this aircraft as we do the five other C-17s at (air base) Amberley."