Lockheed Martin officials opened a new bay at the company’s facility in Marietta, Ga., to support modernization of Air Force C-5 transports. The bay, located in the southwest portion of Marietta’s L-10 hangar, is the third of four bays that the company is establishing in the hangar to upgrade a total of 52 of the Air Force’s C-5s under the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program. The bay officially opened June 30 when a C-5 entered it. The fourth bay is scheduled to open in late 2012, enabling the company to reach the full rate of upgrade activities—11 aircraft per year—in mid 2013. (Lockheed photo caption by Todd McQueen; second photo caption by McQueen)
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.