Lockheed Martin noted that the modernized C-5M Super Galaxy had survived its “dynamic taxi” testing on Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB, Calif. The testing “validates the structural design of the new engine pylon,” George Shultz, vice president of the C-5 modernization program, said in a company statement Friday. C-5M designated aircraft have gone through the Avionics Modernization Program first, followed by the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program. The company rolled out the first C-5M earlier this summer. According to Lockheed, USAF has flown 2,400 hours with C-5s that have received the AMP portion of the upgrade.
The KC-Z4, a blended wing body tanker concept being developed by startup JetZero, could fuel larger groups of aircraft at longer range to hold more targets at risk, company officials say.