The Defence Minister A K Antony will tomorrow formally induct IAF's biggest 70-tonne C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft into service at the Hindon Air Base near Delhi. This will help bolstering IAF's capability to swiftly transport combat troops and equipment such as tanks to the front.

The aircraft procured from the US under a deal expected to be over Rs 20,000 crore will be inducted into the newly-formed 81 'Skylord' Squadron, IAF officials said.

The American C-17, with a capability to carry around 80 tonnes of load and around 150 fully geared troops, will replace the Russian Il-76 as the biggest aircraft in the IAF inventory till now. The Il-76 had the capability to carry loads upto around 40 tonnes. The US Air Force will complete the delivery of all the 10aircraft by the end of next year.