Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company has selected the General Electric CF6-80C2 powerplant for the Air Force Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) for the C-5 Galaxy. Procurement of the powerplant package will include the engine, nacelle and thrust reverser. The GE proposal also includes provision for maintenance of the powerplant by contractor logistics support. A contract to General Electric will be issued following a U.S. Air Force contract award to Lockheed Martin for the C-5 RERP Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase, anticipated to occur in the first quarter of 2001. The General Electric proposal provides for the procurement of up to 504 powerplants plus spares with a potential value in excess of $2.6 billion.

Lockheed Martin Vice President of Strategic Airlift, Bill Arndt, said, "We received very fine proposals from three engine companies. All have great engines which would meet or exceed our customer's requirements. We ultimately selected the CF6-80C2 engine on the basis of best value to our customer, the United States Air Force. We have enjoyed a long relationship with General Electric on the C-5 and look forward to our continued partnership to further enhance this great transport."

The GE CF6-80C2 powerplant will have significantly lower operating cost than the current powerplant, while at the same time greatly increasing time on wing between removals. As a side benefit of the new engine, the C-5 will be FAR 36, Stage III noise compliant.

The GE CF6-80C2 engine is nominally rated at 60,000 lbs. of thrust but will be de-rated to 50,000 lbs., up from the current TF-39 rating of 41,100 lbs. The increased thrust not only improves takeoff performance, but also climb performance and initial cruise altitude, which allows the aircraft to fly in the organized track system after a maximum takeoff weight of 840,000 lbs.

"Overall, flight crews will be thrilled with the performance of the re- engined C-5 Galaxy," said Arndt.

C-5 RERP is the second phase of the Air Force's comprehensive modernization plan for the C-5 fleet aimed at increasing fleet availability and reducing total cost of ownership. The program will focus on upgrading the aircraft with modern commercial engines and systems and making minor structural enhancements to ensure the aircraft is operationally viable until at least 2040.

The initial phase of the C-5 modernization plan, the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), was awarded to Lockheed Martin in January 1999. The program modernizes the cockpit to improve reliability and allow compliance with Global Air Transportation Management (GATM) requirements. AMP includes installation of a new digital automatic flight control system, a new communication-navigation system, and new liquid crystal flat panel displays. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is a leader in the design, development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F-22, C-130J, F-117, U-2, X-33 and Joint Strike Fighter, among other renowned aircraft. LM Aeronautics is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation . Lockheed Martin is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics, and technology services.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company