C-17s Going Up

Congress has approved $2.2 billion for eight more C-17 cargo planes.

Good news for Boeing and especially its suppliers.

The U.S. House of Representatives had recommended the eight additional C-17s.

It also mandated that the Defense Department maintain a strategic airlift fleet of 316 aircraft, which is the current size of the fleet given a program of record for 205 C-17s plus 111 C-5s. It added no money for more C-17s. (HASC bill summary)

Yet, the Senate did not. Wonderful things...conference committees!