Sixth C-17 airlifter planned for RAAF Amberley

Defence is investigating the purchase of a sixth C-17A Globemaster III heavy-lift aircraft for RAAF Base Amberley’s Number 36 Squadron.

The Minister for Defence Stephen Smith made the announcement during the recent ceremony marking the arrival of the RAAF’s fifth C-17A at Amberley.

“This is a great day for Amberley, a great day for Ipswich, a great day for Air Force and a great day for Australia,” Mr Smith said.

“Our original fleet of C-17s was four and we saw with the use of our four C-17s the great work that that heavy airlift capability can provide firstly doing effective work in a military sense and in a combat sense in Afghanistan and the Middle East.”

A sixth C-17 would give the Government increased options to support a wider range of emergencies that might require heavy-lift aircraft and would double the number of C-17A aircraft available for operations at any one time compared to four aircraft.

Events in Queensland, Christchurch and Japan earlier this year underlined the C-17’s importance as an essential part of Australia’s capacity to respond to natural disasters both locally and within the region.

“The work that the men and women from Number 36 Squadron have done in the course of this year does them tremendous credit,” Mr Smith said.

“It adds to our capability, both militarily and in humanitarian assistance and it adds to our reputation both in Australia and offshore.”