Dover Air Force Base’s C-5M Super Galaxies are returning home now that a renovated runway is scheduled to reopen Sept. 23. The Delaware base’s north-south Runway 01-19 has been closed since February 2015 for an overhaul, and last spring, part of Runway 14-32 was also closed, leaving only 6,000 feet of length and limiting Dover’s ability to host its Super Galaxy fleet, according to a 436th Airlift Wing release. The aircraft still flew in and out of the Delaware base for maintenance, but could only land with a minimal weight. The fleet and contingent of airmen were temporarily moved to JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Once Runway 01-19 is opened, the all of runway 14-32 and several taxiways will ?remain closed for work. The entire $102 million project is expected to be finished next summer.
Expanded production of the B-21 bomber can be accomplished at Northrop Grumman's existing Palmdale, Calif., facilities, the Air Force said. It also said test aircraft will be so simular to the production version that early examples could be used in combat if called for.