Officials at Dover AFB, Del., say they have completed operational testing and evaluation of the C-5M Super Galaxy transport aircraft. The OT&E phase comprised nearly four months of missions and demonstrations with the three C-5M test aircraft, including training sorties and wartime surge operations to overseas bases, to validate the performance of the upgraded C-5 configuration, which features new engines, avionics, and reliability enhancements. The aircraft amassed about 1,300 flying hours during the tests. The test data will be used to inform the Air Force and Office of the Secretary of Defense acquisition officials as they mull future production decisions to complete the C-5 re-engining program for the 52 planned Super Galaxy aircraft. (Dover report by 1st Lt. Brian Maguire)
The Air Force awarded a $13.08 billion contract to the Sierra Nevada Corporation on April 26 for its Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft, the successor to the service’s E-4B “Doomsday” plane. Like the E-4B, officially called the National Airborne Operations Center, the SAOC will be meant to withstand a nuclear attack and keep…