Lockheed Martin said Aug. 18 in a company release that it had “successfully completed” developmental flight testing for the three C-5 test aircraft that had undergone Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program modification. Next up is operational testing by the Air Force, slated to begin in the third quarter of 2009. According to George Shultz, C-5 modernization program VP at Lockheed, the RERP aircraft, now designated C-5M, “performed great throughout the test program, demonstrating consistent and reliable performance allowing this team to execute all test points as planned.” Under the Air Force’s latest plan for the C-5 fleet, all C-5B and C-5C aircraft will receive RERP upgrades. The oldest C-5s, the A models, will receive only the Avionics Modernization Program upgrade. Lockheed says it has completed AMP mods on 43 C-5s, which are back in service. The service has some 49 B and C models and nearly 60 A models, a few of which are grounded or on restrictions.
The Pentagon plans to use U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s to deport 5,400 people currently detained by Customs and Border Protection, officials announced Jan. 22, the first act in President Donald Trump’s sweeping promise to crack down on undocumented immigrants and increase border security.