RIGA, Latvia -- A C-17 sits on display in Riga, Latvia, where its capabilities were displayed Nov. 27 to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the president of Latvia, and senior alliance military officials - including Gen. Tom Hobbins, Allied Air Component Commander and U.S. Air Forces in Europe Commander.

The cargo aircraft, flown to Latvia as part of the Riga Summit by aircrew members from the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., showcased a joint initiative by 15 NATO member countries and partner country Sweden to purchase C-17 transport aircraft in order to provide strategic airlift capability for NATO and other missions, according to a NATO news release.

The capability will initially comprise three C-17s, flown and maintained by multinational aircrews under the command of a multinational military structure.

The aircraft will be used for missions which may be purely national in character but could also be allocated to NATO operations or for United Nations, European Union or other international purposes such as humanitarian relief.