# C-5 Airlift Squadrons (IF) — Program Element 0401119F

**Program element:** 0401119F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0401119F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding ramps 129% to a $76.2M request in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. Lockheed Martin leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 25.8 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 33.3 |
| FY2027 | Request | 76.2 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 72.8 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 96.5 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 139.5 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 251.6 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 76.2 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 76.2 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 76.2 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 76.2 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (2)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 671307 | C-5 REPLACE MULTIFUNCT CONTROL AND DISPLAY (RMCD) | 25.7 | 24.3 | 47.5 | +95% |
| 671308 | C-5 Modernization Efforts | 0.1 | 9.0 | 28.7 | +220% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 671307 — C-5 REPLACE MULTIFUNCT CONTROL AND DISPLAY (RMCD)

The C-5M Replace Multi-functional Controls and Display (RMCD) program is a modification to mitigate the obsolescence of the current control and display units. The RMCD program is also a comprehensive effort to ensure appropriate RMCD Line Replaceable Units (LRU) are developed and installed on the C-5M allowing aircraft operation in accordance with civil airspace access mandates for both US National Airspace System (NAS) and international civil airspace. RMCD is a program that will replace the current seven legacy multi-function display units with four updated displays for the pilot, copilot, flight engineer, and a display shared by the pilot and copilot. This effort centers on modifying the current display units to support legacy inputs and integration of new system capabilities with margin for growth by upgrading the displays' power solution. Use of mixed displays (current and new) is not permissible due to obsolescence and human factors considerations. This modification may include software development, data, cyber security, testing, installation, spares, Systems Integration Lab (SIL), prototypes, and other program support activities. Funding may be used to address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS). The modification helps to maintain aircraft availability as the new multi-functional controls and displays replaces the current controls and displays. Funding supports studies and analysis, risk reduction efforts, Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS), program support costs, change orders, and other government costs such as travel, directorate support, government furnished equipment (GFE), and over and above costs. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Lockheed Martin (34.7, 73%), WPAFB/RobinsAFB (7.1, 15%), AFLCMC/WLS (4.5, 9.5%), AFMC 578 SWES/MXDPAA (1.2, 2.5%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-5 Replace Multi-Functional Controls and Display | 25.7 | 24.3 | 47.5 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 671308 — C-5 Modernization Efforts

In accordance with Air Force's strategic direction, C-5 Modernization Efforts funding supports Next-Gen Airlift (NGAL) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) and Concept Development efforts. NGAL is projected to fully replace the C-5M fleet tentatively in FY 2050 and maintain the Strat Air program floor of 223 C-17 aircraft and 52 C-5 aircraft per the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). NGAL efforts will include but not limited to operational analysis, concept development, and acquisition strategy framework to prepare for Milestone A approval and entry into the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase of a major defense acquisition program. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next Generation Airlift (NGAL) | 0.0 | 0.2 | 8.9 |
| C-5 Modernization Efforts | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Holistic Avionics Grounding Avoidance and Recapitalization (HAGAR) | 0.0 | 8.8 | 19.8 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 62% | 47.5 |
| Other / unspecified | 38% | 28.7 |

**Top named industry performers:** Lockheed Martin ($34.7M, 45%), WPAFB/RobinsAFB ($7.1M, 9.3%), AFLCMC/WLS ($4.5M, 5.9%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The C-5M Replace Multi-functional Controls and Display (RMCD) program is a modification to mitigate the obsolescence of the current control and display units. The RMCD program is also a comprehensive effort to ensure appropriate RMCD Line Replaceable Units (LRU) are developed and installed on the C-5M allowing aircraft operation in accordance with civil airspace access mandates for both US National Airspace System (NAS) and international civil airspace. RMCD is a program that will replace the current seven legacy multi-function display units with four updated displays for the pilot, copilot, flight engineer, and a display shared by the pilot and copilot.

Program Acquisition Strategy Panel (ASP) approved program's acquisition strategy on 4 Apr 2020. This strategy approved executing an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contract to procure proof of concept hardware for test/analysis, award a Sole Source Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract to Lockheed Martin Aerospace for system software and hardware tech insertion, system integration, data management, systems engineering, logistics, test and training to modify 2 aircraft. At completion of EMD, the program would move into Milestone C for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and production to follow. Delta ASP approved 12 May 2022 to align EMD contractor requirements and update software development strategy.

## Related program elements

- [0605220N — Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605220N) (Navy)
- [0401221F — KC-46A Tanker Squadrons](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0401221F) (Air Force)
- [0101127F — B-2 Squadrons](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0101127F) (Air Force)
- [0604182A — Hypersonics](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604182A) (Army)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0401119F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0401119F")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*