The U.S. Air Force is planning to trim its buy of C-5 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) kits made by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics by 20 aircraft, indicating the service is likely to retire 20 aircraft if approved by Congress.

The Pentagon’s April 2 Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) is the first public acknowledgment of the reduction in C-5 AMP numbers (Aerospace DAILY, April 5).

The Air Force had sought to retire some of its oldest C-5s to save money for maintenance.

And an excess of C-17s provided by Congress, against the desires of the Air Force, will allow for the retirements without affecting the readiness of the operational fleet.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said March 30 that the long-awaited Mobility Capabilities Requirements Study (MCRS) found that the number of strategic airlifters needed is in the low 300s.

The Air Force is buying 223 C-17s. Schwartz indicated in March that the service could begin retiring 17 C-5s in Fiscal 2011.

Originally, all 112 C-5s were slated to receive the AMP, with only the Bs, one C and an A undergoing the re-engining program for now. It is possible more re-engining kits could be added to the 52 now planned to support the Air Force’s need to boost reliability of the entire fleet.

Schwartz also said that 19 of the oldest C-130 Hs also should be retired.

Also in the April 2 SAR, the Pentagon notes that the C-130 AMP program is finally being properly funded, driving the overall price up 17.9%. The new price is $6.35 billion for 220 kits.

This estimate now includes the pricing for depot installations, spares and training systems.

Boeing had designed the AMP kit, and the Air Force has completed testing. However, lukewarm support from the Air Force prompted a delay in the decision to proceed with producing the kits.

The SAR acknowledges a one-year delay in production. The Air Force had plans to conduct a competition to select a contractor to build and install the kits. It is unclear if that plan has changed.