forces, such as during national emergencies.[137] They are operated in diverse terrain – from Himalayan air bases in North India at 13,000 ft (4,000 m) to Indian Ocean bases in South India.[138] The C-17s are based at Hindon Air Force Station and are operated by the No. 81 Squadron Skylords.[139][140] The first C-17 was delivered in January 2013 for testing and training;[141] it was officially accepted on 11 June 2013.[142] The second C-17 was delivered on 23 July 2013 and put into service immediately. 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 at Boeing's Long Beach factory.[143] On 2 September 2013, the Skylords squadron with three C-17s officially entered IAF2015 Nepal earthquake, which killed nearly 6,000. C-17s were used to transport relief material and rescue Indian citizens.[151]

Boeing delivered Qatar's first C-17 on 11 August 2009 and the second on 10 September 2009 for the Qatar Emiri Air Force.[152] Qatar received its third C-17 in 2012, and fourth C-17 was received on 10 December 2012.[153] In June 2013, the New York Times reported that Qatar was allegedly using its C-17s to ship weapons from Libya to the Syrian opposition during the civil war via Turkey.[154] On 15 June 2015, it was announced at the Paris Airshow that Qatar agreed to order four additional C-17s from the five remaining "white tail" C-17s to double Qatar's C-17 fleet.[155][156]

In February 2009, the United Arab Emirates Air Force agreed to purchase four