Nichols Martin
Lockheed Martin has delivered the 52nd and final aircraft that was refined under a U.S. Air Force program aiming to modernize the C-5 Galaxy strategic transport.
The company said Monday it delivered the C-5M Super Galaxy last Thursday from a facility in Marietta, Ga., and that the aircraft completed upgrades under the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program that aims to extend C-5 service life through the 2040s.
The 439th Airlift Wing shipped the aircraft to Stewart Air Force Base in New York for interior paint restoration.
Afterwards, the aircraft will be moved to Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts as the installation’s eighth C-5M unit.
The modernized C-5M units feature the General Electric-made F138 turbofan engine that generates 22 percent more thrust than engines of older C-5 variants.
The new engine meets the Federal Aviation Administration‘s Stage 4 requirements for noise reduction.
The refined aircraft also includes updates in airframe structure; environmental and pneumatic systems; hydraulic systems; electrical system; fuel system; landing gear; and flight controls, Lockheed noted.
The program cumulatively applied over 70 upgrades that work to support the C-5’s reliability, efficiency, maintainability and availability.
Lockheed has been contributing to RERP development since 2001.
