PW delivers engines for Indian C-17s

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The first batch of 10 engines to power a fleet of C-17 Globemaster IIIs for India has been delivered to Boeing by Pratt & Whitney.

Under a 2011 Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the U.S. government, India committed to acquiring 10 of the military transports and first of these is going through a U.S. Air Force flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, Calif.

Five C-17s will be delivered to the Indian air force this year and the remaining five in 2014.

"Pratt & Whitney is delighted to be delivering the first batch of engines that will power the Indian air force's C-17 fleet and we're pleased to have them join the growing international fleet that flies this premium airlifter," said Bev Deachin, vice president, Military Programs and Customer Support, Pratt & Whitney.

Pratt & Whitney's F117 engines are rated at 40,440 pounds of thrust. Each aircraft, equipped with four engines, is capable of taking off from a 7,600-foot airfield, carrying a payload of 160,600 pounds and can fly 2,400 nautical miles without refueling.