C-5M Super Galaxy

C-5M Super Galaxy
Name	C-5M Super Galaxy
Caption	A United States Air Force C-5M in flight.
Type	Strategic airlifter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Corporation (original), Lockheed Martin (modernization)
First flight	21 June 2006 (C-5M prototype)
Introduction	February 2014
Status	In service
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	52 (converted from C-5B/C)
Developed from	Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

C-5M Super Galaxy. The C-5M Super Galaxy is a modernized, re-engined variant of the long-serving Lockheed C-5 Galaxy strategic airlifter. Developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force, it features new General Electric engines and upgraded avionics, significantly enhancing its performance, reliability, and global reach. This aircraft remains a cornerstone of Air Mobility Command's ability to project outsized cargo, such as M1 Abrams tanks or CH-47 Chinook helicopters, to any location worldwide.

Development and design

The development of the C-5M stemmed from the C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP), initiated to address the aging Lockheed C-5 Galaxy fleet's poor mission-capable rates and high operating costs. Lockheed Martin was selected as the prime contractor, with key upgrades centered on installing four General Electric CF6-80C2 turbofan engines, which are significantly more powerful and fuel-efficient than the original General Electric TF39 engines. This re-engining effort was complemented by a comprehensive modernization of the aircraft's cockpit with a digital glass cockpit, new autopilot systems, and upgraded communication and navigation suites compliant with Global Air Traffic Management mandates. The airframe also received structural enhancements, including a strengthened wingbox and new landing gear, allowing for greater payloads and extending the aircraft's service life beyond 2040. The program faced scrutiny from the Government Accountability Office but ultimately proved successful in transforming the aircraft's capabilities.

Operational history

The first operational C-5M was delivered to the United States Air Force's 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base in February 2014, achieving Initial Operational Capability later that year. It has since become the workhorse for strategic airlift, supporting critical missions for United States Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command. The type has been instrumental in global operations, including the rapid deployment of forces to Central Command's area of responsibility, the delivery of humanitarian aid following disasters like the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and the logistical sustainment of Operation Inherent Resolve. Its increased reliability has led to dramatically higher mission-capable rates compared to legacy C-5s, enabling more frequent and dependable flights to austere locations such as Bagram Airfield and Camp Lemonnier. The C-5M fleet is routinely deployed for exercises like Red Flag and supports the strategic airbridge to locations like Ramstein Air Base.

Variants

The C-5M designation applies specifically to aircraft modernized under the RERP program. All C-5Ms are conversions from earlier airframes, primarily the C-5B model, though a small number of C-5C special mission aircraft were also upgraded. The precursor to the full C-5M was the C-5 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) prototype, which first flew in 2002 and tested the new cockpit systems. The final RERP configuration, sometimes referenced as the C-5M Super Galaxy, represents the culmination of both the AMP and RERP efforts. No new-build C-5M airframes have been constructed; the program exclusively involved remanufacturing existing aircraft at Lockheed Martin's facilities in Marietta, Georgia.

Operators

The sole operator of the C-5M Super Galaxy is the United States Air Force. The aircraft are assigned to active duty, Air Force Reserve Command, and Air National Guard units. Primary active duty units include the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base in California. Reserve units operate the type with the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis and the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts. The only Air National Guard unit flying the C-5M is the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York.

Specifications (C-5M)

* **Crew:** 7 (2 pilots, 2 flight engineers, 3 loadmasters) * **Length:** 247 ft 1 in (75.3 m) * **Wingspan:** 222 ft 9 in (67.9 m) * **Height:** 65 ft 1 in (19.8 m) * **Empty weight:** 374,000 lb (169,643 kg) * **Max takeoff weight:** 840,000 lb (381,018 kg) * **Powerplant:** 4 × General Electric CF6-80C2 turbofan engines, 50,000 lbf (220 kN) thrust each * **Maximum speed:** 518 mph (834 km/h, 450 kn) * **Range:** 5,524 mi (8,890 km) with 270,000 lb (122,470 kg) payload * **Service ceiling:** 41,000 ft (12,500 m) * **Cargo hold volume:** 34,795 cu ft (985.4 m³)

Notable appearances in media

The C-5M and its predecessors have been featured in various documentaries and news segments highlighting United States Air Force airlift capabilities, such as those produced by the Military Channel. It has appeared in films depicting military logistics, including a notable role in the movie *The Last Full Measure* (2019), which involved airlift sequences. The aircraft is also a frequent subject in aviation publications like *Air & Space Forces Magazine* and is showcased at public events like the Dayton Air Show and the Andrews Air Force Base open house.

Category:United States military transport aircraft Category:Four-engined jet aircraft Category:Lockheed aircraft