RAAF to get two more C-17s

Australia will buy two more Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, giving the RAAF a fleet of eight to help in relief missions and other operations.

The government plans to spend about $1 billion. About half will go towards the two extra aircraft, and the rest will be spent on new facilities, including a new maintenance hangar and upgraded facilities at RAAF base Amberley in Queensland.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said C-17 aircraft had transformed the Australian Defence Force's ability to transport large loads over long distances and to deploy its vehicles, helicopters and heavy equipment in Australia and overseas, on military, humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

Each can carry up to 75 tonnes of cargo, four times what can be carried aboard the RAAF's C-130J transport aircraft, covering twice the distance in three-quarters of the time.

The Howard government ordered four C-17s in 2006. They proved so useful that Labor ordered two more.

Aircraft seven and eight could be the last new C-17s for the RAAF. Their manufacturer Boeing closed the C-17 production line at the end of last year.