U.S. Air Force Orders 15 Boeing C-17s

[Rockville]

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force has ordered 15 C-17 military transport planes from U.S. manufacturer Boeing valued at $2.9 billion, the Pentagon announced Feb. 6.
"The Air Force is awarding a firm fixed price contract to McDonnell Douglas Corporation of Long Beach, California, for an amount not to exceed $2.95 billion ... for the procurement of 15 C-17 aircraft," the Department of Defense said in a statement.

The contract revives the fortunes of the C-17, the heart of the U.S. Air Force's fleet of long-range transport planes.
Boeing had been on the verge of scrapping C-17 production in 2006 when orders for the plane dried up.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 6 Feb 18:31 EST (23:31 GMT)