The Kuwait Air Force’s first C-17 Globemaster III airlifter is unlikely to fly beneath the radar thanks to its custom Kuwaiti livery, something the Kuwait Air Force is just fine with. Boeing delivered the first of two C-17s ordered by Kuwait on Feb. 13, marking the addition of another country to the C-17 family of operators.
“The C-17 meets the unique airlift requirements of the Kuwait Air Force.”
Kuwait’s C-17 will give the Kuwaiti Air Force expanded capabilities in both military and civilian operations. “The C-17 meets the unique airlift requirements of the Kuwait Air Force,” said Col. Abdullah Al Foudari, Deputy Commander Kuwait Air Force.
A United Arab Emirates (UAE) C-17 Globemaster III. The Kuwait Air Force joins the UAE and Qatar as the only operators of the C-17 in the Middle East. Boeing photo
The custom paint job will distinguish Kuwait’s C-17 from the 259 others operating worldwide. The reason for this is simple. “When this C-17 arrives to deliver humanitarian aid or disaster relief anywhere in the world, people in need will know that the aid came from Kuwait,” said Abdullah. “With this airlifter we can more effectively participate in the operations we choose, transporting large payloads across long distances, flying at high altitudes in hot climates such as ours, and landing on short, unpaved runways,” added Abdullah.
“With this airlifter we can more effectively participate in the operations we choose, transporting large payloads across long distances, flying at high altitudes in hot climates such as ours, and landing on short, unpaved runways.”
For Boeing’s part, the Kuwaiti C-17 delivery was an opportunity to showcase its C-17 production line. “We welcome Kuwait to the global C-17 fleet with the knowledge that this aircraft elevates the Kuwait Air Force’s airlift capabilities and also further strengthens Boeing’s relationship with Kuwait,” said Nan Bouchard, vice president and C-17 program manager.
Twelve KC-10 Extenders and six C-17 Globemaster IIIs, assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing, take part in an “elephant walk,” as part of a training exercise, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Nov. 21, 2013. The U.S. Air Force operates 223 of the 260 C-17s that have been manufactured by Boeing. U.S. Air Force photo by Russ Meseroll
Support for Kuwait’s C-17s will be provided by Boeing through the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program. “We will support this C-17 long after today’s delivery,” said Bouchard. The delivery of the Kuwait Air Force C-17 brings the total of Boeing-made C-17s to 260. The U.S. Air Force operates 223, with other operators including Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the 12-nation Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) of the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC).