The US plans to sell 10 Boeing C-17 transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at an estimated cost of 5.8 billion dollars and has notified its Congress for commencing negotiations.<br/> <br/> The notification by the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency on the sale was submitted to the US Congress on Saturday. <br/> <br/>A release from the US embassy in New Delhi described this as an important step forward in the US Foreign Military Sales process and is a necessary pre-requisite<br/>to negotiations on the deal. <br/> <br/>US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said that the potential sale of C-17s strengthens the growing partnership between our two countries<br/>demonstrates our enduring commitment to sharing the world's best technology with India.<br/> <br/>He said, the sale would offer economic benefits for India and the US and is likely to include significant job creation in both countries.<br/> <br/>The C-17 is the workhorse of the US Air Force transport fleet and has proven to be <br/>highly reliable in the harsh environments of Iraq and Afghanistan.<br/> <br/>In addition to the US Air Force, the C-17 is currently in service with the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Canadian Forces, NATO and Qatar. The UAE too has placed orders for the aircraft.<br/>