C-5 Airlift Squadrons (IF)

Mission — C-5 Airlift Squadrons (IF) source

The C-5M carries outsized and heavy cargo (tanks, helicopters, etc.) between main operating bases. Additionally, the aircraft is capable of carrying 73 troops and 36 standard 463-L pallets. There are 52 C-5 aircraft in the Air Force fleet. The fleet was delivered to the Air Force between 1969 and 1989. Service life was extended to at least 2040 as a result of the reliability enhancement and re-engining program (RERP) modification. Current C-5M RDT&E efforts are the C-5M Replace Multi-functional Controls and Display (RMCD) program and C-5 Modernization. RMCD is a cockpit display modification to mitigate the obsolescence of the current control and display units. The C-5 Modernization efforts help keep the aircraft viable for the Air Force by developing solutions to mitigate safety of flight concerns and by addressing other reliability/availability/maintainability issues, such as the Holistic Avionics Grounding Avoidance and Recapitalization (HAGAR), stemming from C-5 system obsolescence. Additionally, the C-5 Modernization funding line supports the warfighter directly to implement Air Force mandated operational capabilities, including but not limited to MAF Connectivity, Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Antenna upgrade, and Second-Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), which are required to keep the platform operationally relevant in a modern threat environment. Efforts will include initial capabilities studies and analysis, risk reduction efforts, and studies and analysis to address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS). This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024 $0.000 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 $0.000 million is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $0.957 million for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative.” This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Mission — C-5 REPLACE MULTIFUNCT CONTROL AND DISPLAY (RMCD) source

The C-5M Replace Multi-functional Controls and Display (RMCD) program is a modification to mitigate the obsolescence of the current control and display units. The RMCD program is also a comprehensive effort to ensure appropriate RMCD Line Replaceable Units (LRU) are developed and installed on the C-5M allowing aircraft operation in accordance with civil airspace access mandates for both US National Airspace System (NAS) and international civil airspace. RMCD is a program that will replace the current seven legacy multi-function display units with four updated displays for the pilot, copilot, flight engineer, and a display shared by the pilot and copilot. This effort centers on modifying the current display units to support legacy inputs and integration of new system capabilities with margin for growth by upgrading the displays' power solution. Use of mixed displays (current and new) is not permissible due to obsolescence and human factors considerations. This modification may include software development, data, cyber security, testing, installation, spares, Systems Integration Lab (SIL), prototypes, and other program support activities. Funding may be used to address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS). The modification helps to maintain aircraft availability as the new multi-functional controls and displays replaces the current controls and displays. Funding supports studies and analysis, risk reduction efforts, Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS), program support costs, change orders, and other government costs such as travel, directorate support, government furnished equipment (GFE), and over and above costs. RMCD funding request supports development activities through FY 2027. In FY 2024, the program continued development activity and received shipment of four engineering prototype shipsets and issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) for a follow-on development contract with Lockheed Martin, anticipate contract award in first quarter FY 2025. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F. In FY 2024 $0.000 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 $0.000 million is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Mission — C-5 Modernization Efforts source

The C-5 Modernization Efforts will develop future solutions for needed upgrades to combat obsolescence, safety of flight, and reliability/availability/maintainability issues. Efforts will also include initial capabilities studies and analysis, risk reduction efforts, and studies and analysis to address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS). This funding line is designed to support aircraft Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) efforts including but not limited to studies and analyses, risk reduction efforts, software development, Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS), program support costs, change orders, and other government costs such as travel, directorate support, government furnished equipment (GFE), and over and above costs. Types of activities supported will include software development, data, cyber security, testing, installation, spares, Systems Integration Lab (SIL), prototypes, and other program support activities. All funds allocated to this project are dedicated to C-5 modernization efforts which will be prioritized in accordance with Air Mobility Command (AMC) processes. These efforts may include mission computer upgrades, air data system upgrades, communication system upgrades for Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), Second Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), and viability improvement initiatives to legacy communication equipment, flight deck panel upgrades and navigational solutions in denied environments compatible with Military-coded global positioning system. The C-5M Holistic Avionics Grounding Avoidance and Recapitalization (HAGAR) program is a modification to mitigate the obsolescence of the current air data system, mission computers, and the associated aircraft Operational Flight Program coding practices. The HAGAR program is a comprehensive effort to ensure appropriate HAGAR Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) are developed, integrated, and installed on the C-5M allowing aircraft operation in accordance with civil airspace access mandates for both US National Airspace System (NAS) and international civil airspace. This effort centers on modifying the current mission computing architecture and air data systems. These components include, but are not limited to: the Versatile Integrated Avionics/Avionics Interface unit (VIA/AIU), Bus System Interface Unit/Bus Adapter Unit, Airplane Personality Module, Standard Central Air Data Computer (SCADC), Total Air Temperature Indicating System, Pitot-static system, and Secondary Flight Display. The VIA/AIU is an avionic Honeywell product that is experiencing significant DMS/obsolescence along with sustainment infrastructure supportability issues. Mission Computer Replacement of obsolete Terminal Control Software, Flight Management System, IBT Infrastructure, Automatic Flight Controls, and Operating System will occur. The Backup Integrated Processor (BIP) will be removed. The current repair end date is 2027 for the VIA/AIU. The C-5 platform will begin to see the degradation and cannibalization of parts to support mission requirements. Currently there are a total of 74-plus obsolescent sub-components that have been identified in the VIA/AIU. System degradation will be experienced on the VIA/AIU components and preclude the program office to support the current system beyond 2029. The Standard Central Air Data Computer (SCADC) is among the oldest components on the C-5. The original specification document was written in 1966, and the current GEC Avionics 141/A has been on the C-5 since 1983. The SCADC is a real-time, bus-oriented, microprocessor-based digital computer. The SCADC computes related air data functions, and air data parameters to the core processing system. The C-5M is the only user of the SCADC and related air data system components. The system is experiencing severe Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) issues and the C-5M platform will start seeing severe mission degradation beginning in FY29 with the current projections of the program office being unable to support the system past FY 2033. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024 $0.000 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 $0.000 milion is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (4)