Indian Air force shall induct US made C-17 Globemaster Heavy Lift Transport Aircraft . The 70 tonne aircraft is the biggest aircraft of IAF so far.
It will be inducted by  Defence Minister  A K Antony on September 2 at Hindon Airbase New Delhi into the newly-formed 81 ‘Skylord’ Squadron.
C17 Aircraft has the  capability to carry around 80 tonnes of load and around 150 fully geared troops.
India has ordered 10 C17 Â Globemaster II Aircraft from Boeing. The total cost of the ten-plane order is US$ 4.1 billion, and it will make IAF the second-largest C-17 operator.
Apart from India, the C-17 Aircraft is operated by Air Force of United States,  United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and  NATO  Heavy Airlift Wing.
Boeing C17 Globemaster III Aircraft in air
The C-17 commonly performs strategic airlift missions, transporting troops and cargo throughout the world; additional roles include tactical airlift, medical evacuation and airdrop duties. The aircraft provides the ability to deploy special forces in the event of national emergencies or terrorism.
They will be operated by the air force in diverse terrain – from Himalayan air bases in North India at 13,000 ft to Indian Ocean bases in South India.  The Indian Air Force’s C-17s are based at Hindon Air Force Station.
The first C-17 was delivered in January 2013 for testing and training;  it was officially accepted on 11 June 2013  The IAF first used the C-17 to transport equipment of an army infantry battalion to Port Blair on 1 July 2013.  The second C-17 was delivered on 23 July 2013 and entered service immediately. The third aircraft was delivered in August 2013; two more will be delivered in 2013, and the remaining five in 2014. The air force may purchase six more aircraft.
IAF Chief of Air Staff Norman AK Browne called the Globemaster III “a major component in the IAF’s modernization drive” while taking delivery of the aircraft in Boeing’s Long Beach factory.
The aircraft is expected to enhance the operational potential of the IAF with its payload carriage and performance capability and would augment the strategic reach during disaster relief or any similar missions.
In recent times, the IAF has shifted its dependence from the Russian-origin aircraft towards the American ones with the induction of the C-17 and the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.
The IAF operates six C-130Js and has plans of procuring six more for operations on small and unpaved runways alongside routine transport missions.