Lockheed Martin delivered the third production C-5M Super Galaxy—the sixth overall—to the Air Force Aug. 24. The aircraft will undergo internal paint restoration at Stewart ANGB, N.Y., before moving on to its permanent home at Dover AFB, Del., according to a company release. Lockheed is under contract to modernize 52 C-5s through the Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program, which incorporates more than 70 changes and upgrades and is intended to improve fuel efficiency by 10 percent. A Super Galaxy was the first US airlifter to fly directly from Dover to Afghanistan via a polar over flight route in June.
The Space Force’s fiscal 2027 budget request includes about $2.5 billion for commercial services like satellite communications and off-the-shelf capabilities, but officials say commercial components and technology are embedded throughout programs, making the true allocation much higher.