C-5M Super Galaxy upgrades have proven so successful at enhancing the airlifter’s reach, reliability, and efficiency that Air Mobility Command is considering similar, future upgrades to aircraft such as the C-17 and C-130. “We’re looking at all aspects … fuel efficiency is big to me,” AMC boss Gen. Carlton Everhart said at AWS16. “I believe that I’m the largest consumer of fuel because I fly big airplanes … we’re looking at the possibility in the future of needing to re-engine airplanes as they get older,” he added. AMC is hosting an industry day to discuss possibilities to increase legacy fleets’ efficiency and “everything’s on the table,” Everhart said. If you look at the success that we’ve had with the C-5M, we’ve maxed that aircraft out—I mean, almost completely maxed it out, and that aircraft can still take off in 6,000 feet…and when those motors start, they start,” he emphasised. “We can take off from Dover on the East Coast and go all the way to Incirlik, Turkey. We’re doing it all the time … and that’s all based off the engine and the fuel efficiency we get … It’s pretty remarkable.” Lockheed Martin redelivered the 32nd Super Galaxy to AMC last December, and plans call for upgrading 20 more aircraft.
The Space Force is finalizing its first contracts for the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve and plans to award them early in 2025—giving the service access to commercial satellites and other space systems in times of conflict or crisis—officials said Nov. 21.