Boeing wins Qatar order for C-17 military aircraft

[Midnight Mike]

Boeing on Monday signed a contract with Qatar for C-17 military airlift planes, the US aerospace giant said, without revealing how many of the long-range troop and cargo aircraft were ordered.

The government of Qatar's purchase of the C-17 Globemaster III airlifter will provide "new strategic-airlift mobility capabilities" for the Qatar Armed Forces (QAF), Boeing said.

The company did not give the value of the order but said it would begin deliveries from its Long Beach, California-based C-17 factory in summer 2009.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g7c ... MENYsZ4LKA (http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g7cVfHgwi2y-33rzT8MENYsZ4LKA)

[cancidas]

interesting... at least the ling beach facility will continue to operate for a while longer.

[Ari707]

where is the Qatar air force be going that it needs C-17's???

[Mateo]

The Qatar Defense Force doesn't have any airlift capability! I show the current strength as 14 Mirages and 26 helicopters. Interesting that they're skipping tactical lift entirely and going straight for the strategic side. I wonder if there's a corresponding A400 order coming soon - can't upset any of their l-oil customers.

[cancidas]

aren't they also getting eurofighters?

[Matt Molnar]

I wonder if there's a corresponding A400 order coming soon - can't upset any of their l-oil customers.
Why not? What are they gonna do, drill their own oil? :)