The Pentagon has certified the C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) for 49 additional aircraft.

The C-5s approved Feb. 14 include 47 C-SBs used for intertheater airlift and two C-5Cs used primarily for domestic missions supporting the space program. Three C-5s already have been modernized.

The three Air Guard airlift wings flying the giant cargo aircraft (NATIONAL GUARD magazine, February 2008) all operate the older C-5A, which the Air Force has recommended against putting in the RERP program.

"It makes sense to not RERP the A-models from a stewardship perspective, since the A-models are the oldest, least reliable and most costly to maintain. There's no guarantee we'd get a return on investment with them," said Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, Air Mobility Command commander.

Air Force officials said RERP's overall objective is to improve C-5 fleet reliability, availability and aircraft performance.

The C-5B fleet currently has a mission-capable rate of only about 65 percent, which has been a source of concern for defense officials and Congress. C-5As, which entered service in 1969, are even less reliable.

All C-5s are still programmed to receive the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) modification, which replaces obsolete navigation, communication and surveillance equipment. AMP provides the digital architecture backbone needed for RERP.

Projected RERP cost overruns led the Air Force to submit a Nunn-McCurdy cost-breach declaration to Congress last year.

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