Reducing Long-Term Costs While Preserving a Robust Strategic Airlift Fleet: Options for the Current Fleet and Next-Generation Aircraft.

摘要

This document presents the results of a cost-effectiveness analysis to determine the best way to recapitalize the USAF intertheater (strategic) airlift fleet. The USAF intertheater airlift fleet consists of C-5s and C-17As. As of 2010, there were 111 C-5s in the inventory; as of 2012, there will be 221 C-17As. Three versions of the C-5 were produced: the C-5A; C-5B; and two special-mission aircraft, C-5Cs. The C-5 fleet is currently undergoing a modernization program to upgrade its avionics, engines, and other components. After an aircraft undergoes this Reliability Enhancement and Reengine Program (RERP), it is designated a C-5M. One C-5A and seven C-5Bs have undergone this upgrade and are now so designated. As of fall 2010, the USAF had 59 C-5As, 42 C- 5Bs, two C-5Cs, and eight C-5Ms. The current USAF plan for the C-5 fleet is to implement the RERP upgrade on all the C-5Bs and to retire 22 of the C-5As. Note that a RERP does not affect the service life of the aircraft. The resulting fleet will consist of 37 C-5As and 52 C-5Ms (one of which is an upgraded C-5A, two of which are upgraded C-5Cs, and the rest are upgraded C-5Bs). This fleet is sufficient to meet the demands of Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study 2016 (MCRS-16) Case 1.