St. Louis, Jan 7 - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed a contract for the acquisition of six Boeing C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifters for its air force, the company announced here.

Under the agreement announced Wednesday. the UAE will take delivery of four C-17s in 2011 and two in 2012. Financial terms are not being disclosed. The UAE is the second Middle East nation after Qatar to order this big four-engine airlifter.

"The C-17 will give the UAE the ability to perform a variety of humanitarian and strategic lift operations around the world in support of both national and international missions," said Major General Staff Pilot Faris Mohamed Al Mazrouei. "These missions require us to be ready for any contingency at any time and any place, and the C-17 meets our requirements."

The C-17 can carry large combat equipment and troops or humanitarian aid across international distances directly to small austere airfields anywhere in the world.

"Boeing is pleased that the UAE Air Force has selected the C-17 to meet its airlift requirements for the 21st century," said Jean Chamberlin, Boeing vice president, Global Mobility Systems. "The C-17 consistently posts mission capability rates that are among the best in the world, earning it high marks for its industry-leading quality and reliability."

Out of 212 C-17s in service worldwide, 193 are with the US Air Force.

In New Delhi, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, had earlier told India Strategic defence magazine that the Indian Air Force (IAF) was also interested in buying 10 C 17s for operational and disaster relief roles. (IANS)