C-5 Galaxy

Description: The C-5 Galaxy is a heavyweight, long range, cargo aircraft designed to provide strategic airlift for deployment and supply of combat and support forces.

The C-5 features front and rear doors for load and off load operations simultaneously. It can takeoff on runways of 2,500 meters and land within 1,500 meters. It is able to carry the heaviest vehicles of the US Army such as the M1 Abrams or bridge-launcher vehicles.

The first C-5A Galaxy was deployed in 1970 and the first C-5B in 1980. A total of 76 C-5A and 50 C-5B Galaxy aircraft have been delivered to the US Air Force. The US Air Force tries to upgrade existing C-5s to extend its service life well into the 21st century.

The Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) managed by Lockheed-Martin aims at replacing software and hardware on 112 existing C-5A/B strategic cargo aircraft. This effort began in 1999 and it will last several years. AMP will replace the legacy analog cockpit instruments while providing an eight-fold improvement in avionics reliability.

Each AMP kit consists of 7 Honeywell 6-inch by 8-inch flat panel, color, sunlight readable, liquid crystal displays with 6 of them for the pilot and copilot and the remaining one for the flight engineer. In addition, GPS/IMU receiver, high frequency datalink and satellite communications suite are also provided within the AMP kit as well as a ground proximity warning system and a collision avoidance system. The AMP kit installation takes 110 calendar days but it is expected to decrease this figure to 60 days.

AMP will improve current C-5s performance and paves the way for the Reliability Enhancement and Reengining Program (RERP) adding digital interfaces for CF6 engines and other capabilities needed. After the AMP modification each US Air Force C-5 aircraft will undergo RERP. This program was valued at $11 billion including modification of 112 aircraft.