Zitat

Qatar interested in Boeing C-17
FARNBOROUGH (Reuters) - The United States is clearing the way for Qatar to buy Boeing's (BA.N) C-17 transport aircraft, a step toward more coordinated military and humanitarian airlift capability worldwide, a senior U.S. Air Force official said Wednesday.

Qatar "has expressed an interest to acquire" the C-17, Bruce Lemkin, deputy under secretary of the Air Force for international affairs, said in an interview at the Farnborough International Airshow.

A high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed aircraft with a rear-loading ramp, the C-17 can carry large combat equipment and troops or humanitarian aid between continents to small, austere airfields worldwide.

Qatari officials could not immediately be reached for comment. They are negotiating to buy two C-17s with an option for two more, a person familiar with the matter said.

This person said Qatar is interested in being able to respond to humanitarian crises such as tsunamis and earthquakes in what he described as a new way for a Muslim nation.

"They want to be able to fly in with something that has an Arab flag on its tail," said the person, who asked not to be identified.

Boeing's discussions with potential customers are confidential and they "will announce their intentions on their own timetable," said Dan Beck, a spokesman for Boeing's defence business.

Lemkin said other, unspecified countries also are showing interest in the C-17 as well as in Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) much smaller C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter.

Asked about Libya, he said: "The relationship with Libya is certainly transformed and continuing to progress."

He described his outreach efforts as part of an effort to build operational ties between the U.S. Air Force and other nations' air forces.

"They train with us. They're going to operate with us," he said. "They're part of our system in operating the same kind of capabilities."

Lemkin cited the 15 so-called Strategic Airlift Capability nations that have agreed to buy three C-17s. The shared fleet is to be based at Papa air base in Hungary to meet national airlift needs, including for NATO and European Union missions. The first such C-17 is to be delivered in November, with the other two to follow by the middle of next year.

In addition, he said the new, less costly, C-27J transport being offered by L-3 Communications Holdings Inc (LLL.N), Boeing and Alenia North America has opened new possibilities for ties to African states. Alenia is a unit of Italy's Finmeccanica (SIFI.MI).

"That is providing us opportunities in some countries where we never had an Air Force-to-Air Force relationship -- in Africa and places like that," Lemkin said.

Zitat

LONG BEACH - Boeing hat die zweite C-17 Globemaster III an die Luftstreitkräfte des Emirats Katar ausgeliefert. Die Transportmaschine trägt die Bemalung der Verkehrsflugzeuge der staatlichen Fluggesellschaft Qatar Airways. Katar ist der erste Staat des Nahen Ostens, der die C-17 einsetzt, und hatte im Juli 2008 zwei Flugzeuge bestellt.......

Zitat von »RomanK«

Wo auch immer eine zivile Airline eine Militärmaschine eingesetzt hat oder mit einem staatlichen Auftrag geflogen ist, führte das zum Tod vieler unschuldigen Menschen, siehe den Völkermord im Sudan oder früher die von der CIA kontrollierten fernöstlichen Airlines.