April 13, 2006:
Australia is buying four C-17 transports for two billion dollars. This would include support equipment and parts (18 spare engines, four Infrared Countermeasures systems, night vision goggles, training services and support equipment.) Britain has leased four C-17s for seven years, at a cost of $1.35 billion. The C-17 has a top speed of 804 kilometers per hour, a range of 8,700 kilometers, can carry 86 tons (or 102 troops), including such loads like the M1 Abrams and the M2 Bradley. It can also be refueled while carrying its cargo. This plane is also able to land on rough strips. In effect, it can land anywhere a C-130 can.