BANGALORE: Day 3 of Aero India saw the heavy military aircrafts take centrestage with Boeing and Lockheed Martin battling it out in the skies. Boeing's Globemaster III is going all out to impress the Indian Air Force that's looking to add a few airlift planes to their fleet.

Military transport aircraft are traditionally sluggish but the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III was out to rubbish that idea. Capable of rapid delivery of troops and cargo to main operating bases, the Globemaster is used by the world's major military forces like the US and the British. The crew says it is the world's most advanced airlifter and has proved itself in various military and humanitarian missions.

Major Mike Dinwiddie, Pilot, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III said: Compared to any aircraft, we can go on shorter strips and take off from shorter distances carrying more cargo and more weight. That is kind of the unique capability of the C-17 to carry 75000 kilos and be to go on short gravel/dirt strips, shorter takeoff and landing capacity and the ability to refuel in the air.

The Indian Air Force is looking to add a few airlifters like these to its fleet. In 2008, in a multimillion dollar deal it had bought six C-130Js airlifters from Boeing's US based rival Lockheed Martin. This time around Boeing is going to ensure that the Indian Air Force is more than impressed with the C-17.

But Lockheed Martin is hoping that the recent deal with the Indian Air Force will result in other deals with related defence organisations.

Orville Prins, VP-Business Development (India), Lockheed Martin, said: Right now, they have indicated how they want to operate the aircraft from a special operations capability. Ultimately if they choose to configure it differently it will be their choice. But there might be other organizations in India like the Border Security Force, National Disaster Management Agency which might look at this aircrafts multi-mission capability and might result in a

Both Boeing and Lockheed Martin are battling it out not only for the military airlifter deal but also for combat fighter jets and helicopters, all on the shopping list of the Indian Air Force. Both of them expect strong growth from the Indian defence industry and showcasing nothing but the best for the market.