The Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin the first production contract for the C-5 reliability enhancement and re-engining program, the Department of Defense announced April 18. Under the terms of the $127.2 million deal, the company will provide the first lot of RERP upgrade kits and procure the long-lead-time materials for lot 2. The Air Force will upgrade 47 C-5Bs and two C-5Cs under the RERP program, which was restructured in February, and also give them new avionics under a separate initiative. They will join three C-5Ms in the 111-aircraft C-5 fleet that have already received the more powerful and fuel efficient engines and reliability improvements under the RERP and the new avionics, and 59 C-5As that are scheduled to receive only the new avionics. All 49 aircraft are projected to have the RERP equipment around 2016.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
