On 2 August, Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility in Georgia delivered the 52nd C-5M Super Galaxy strategic transport aircraft modernised under the US Air Force’s Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP).

This completes the RERP upgrade, which is designed to extend the service life of the C-5 fleet until the 2040s.

Lockheed Martin director Patricia Pagan said: “With the capability inherent in the C-5M, the Super Galaxy is more efficient and more reliable, and better able to do its job of truly global strategic airlift.

“We have worked very hard to ensure that the C-5Ms are the absolute best strategic ‘airlifters’ possible for our armed forces.”

Lockheed Martin began RERP development work in 2001. RERP, which incorporates more than 70 improvements that boost reliability, efficiency, maintainability and availability, includes changes or modifications to the airframe structure, environmental and pneumatic systems, hydraulic systems, electrical system, fuel system, landing gear and flight controls.

The heart of the upgrades is the GE F138 turbofan engine (known as the CF6-80C2L1F in the commercial world), which is de-rated to 50,000 pounds of thrust on the C-5M.

This engine provides 22% more thrust than the out-of-production TF39 turbofans on the earlier C-5A/B/C aircraft; it also allows the C-5M to meet the FAA’s Stage 4 noise reduction requirements.

Taken together, these changes result in a 22% increase in thrust, a shorter take-off roll and a 58% improvement in the climb rate, plus greatly enhanced fuel efficiency and less need for tanker support.

The C-5 Galaxy, which has been operated solely by the US Air Force since 1970 and is the largest strategic airlifter in its fleet, can carry two 78-tonne M1A1 main battle tanks or helicopters — and other large equipment — over
intercontinental distances.

Fully loaded, a C-5 has a gross weight of more than 800,000lb. All of the C-5s were built at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta site (www.lockheedmartin.com).