Work is under way at Travis AFB, Calif., to modernize the avionics on the last three of the Air Force’s C-5 Galaxy airlifters. Air Force and Lockheed Martin officials expect to complete these activities next May. Once upgraded, these three C-5As will join the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg. They were formerly assigned to Air Force Reserve Command’s 445th AW at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, which is transitioning to the C-17. Lockheed began upgrading C-5 cockpits in 2004 under the C-5 Avionics Modernization Program. This upgrade adds a new all-weather flight control system and autopilot as well as a new communications suite, flat-panel displays, and an enhanced navigation and safety system. It also incorporates two integrated datalink systems in the cockpit, according to Lynn Rollin, C-5 AMP project manager with Travis’ 60th Maintenance Group. (Travis report by Merrie Schilter-Lowe)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
