The Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $223 million contract for work on updating more C-5 Galaxy transports to the new C-5M Super Galaxy configuration. The new contract, awarded on June 18, supports Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program upgrades for 11 C-5s. The RERP work, along with avionics updates already completed, will transform these airplanes to the new M-model standard. Lockheed Martin spokesman Chad Gibson told Air Force Magazine the contract fully authorizes Lot 6 RERP production, including material, spares, and installation, along with materials for Lot 7. Overall, the company is configuring 52 of the Air Force’s C-5s in the Super Galaxy standard. So far, it’s delivered 18 C-5Ms to Dover AFB, Del., and one to Travis AFB, Calif. Gibson said delivery of the 20th C-5M is expected “in the next couple of weeks.” Lockheed Martin is slated to complete its work on all 52 C-5s by early 2018, he said. (Pentagon’s list of major contracts for June 18.)
A new White House policy calls for the Pentagon to craft plans for additional space launch facilities to support a projected increase in launch demand that could see the U.S. supporting as many as 1,000 launches by 2030, more than a fivefold increase from 2025.