The US Air Force has formally committed to a $9.7 billion, five-year multi-year procurement (MYP) of 60 additional Boeing C-17s, clearing the way for continuous production of 15 aircraft per year at Long Beach, California, until mid-2007. The contract, expected for some time, enables Boeing to stabilise long lead supplier contracts beyond 2003 when the final aircraft of the first MYP is due to be completed. The second MYP takes total funded C-17 production to 180 aircraft, with MYP 1 having covered production of 80 aircraft from 1997.
Source: Flight International
