Washington, October 26 The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received its Fourth Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a large, versatile military transport craft capable of carrying heavy, large loads long distances and landing on rough and unprepared surfaces. Once India receives its complement of 10 craft, it’ll be the largest C-17 operator outside the United States.

The plane departed for India October 19 from Boeing’s long beach, California, facility keeping the corporate on target to deliver a complete of 5 advanced airlifters to the IAF this year. Boeing can deliver 5 additional C-17s to India in 2014 to finish the contract, the corporate said in a media release.

It will carry a cargo of wheeled United States Army vehicles in 2 side-by-side rows, together with the United States Army’s main battle tank, the M-1. 3 Bradley infantry-fighting vehicles comprise one load. It will drop a single 60,000-lb. payload, with sequent load drops of 110,000 lb.

The transporter will seat fifty four on the sidewall and forty eight within the centreline. It will even back up a two-percent slope, the corporate said.

Boeing can complete production of the C-17 Globemaster III within the fourth quarter of 2015. additionally to the remaining C-17s for India, the corporate can build fifteen more for other customers outside the United States.

Boeing has delivered 258 C-17s, including 223 to the United States Air Force and a complete of 35 to Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the uk and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.