According to Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, the service has not closed the door on providing new engines as well as avionics upgrades to its oldest C-5 airlifters, the A models. Currently, the service has planned only to employ full modernization—the so-called RERP for reliability enhancement and reengining program—for 49 C-5B models and two C-5C models. It has fully modernized one C-5A model and two C-5Bs for the RERP test program; those three aircraft are now C-5M models. Lockheed Martin began work on the first production RERP aircraft last summer and this month received low-rate-initial-production funding.
One Airman was killed and three others injured in a vehicle mishap at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., on June 29. Additionally, two first responder Airmen sustained injuries responding to the incident. All five injured Airmen have been transported to nearby medical facilities, according to a release from the base.