Boeing said on Jan. 6 it has won a contract from the United Arab Emirates for six C-17 military aircraft, making the UAE the second Middle East nation to order the airlifter.

UAE will take delivery of four C-17s in 2011 and two in 2012 in the deal, whose "financial terms are not being disclosed," Boeing said.

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

"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," Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE major general staff pilot, said.

"These missions require us to be ready for any contingency at any time and any place, and the C-17 meets our requirements."

Qatar was the first Middle East nation to order the airlifter, Boeing said.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010