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Senators press Transcom on C-5 readiness; support ‘right to repair’ to reduce mission-capability shortfalls
Summary
Senators questioned U.S. Transportation Command on C-5 Super Galaxy mission-capable rates and discussed congressional efforts to ensure DOD can repair or reverse-engineer parts when contractors restrict technical data.
Lawmakers pressed Transcom on the readiness of the C-5 strategic airlifter and discussed legislative efforts to give the military greater repair authority for critical parts.
Why it matters: The C-5 is a major strategic transport asset; low mission-capable rates reduce available lift for deployments and surge operations.
Senator Elizabeth Warren told the committee that the C-5 flew its mission only about 52% of the time in 2022, and that mission-capable rates fell to “about 46%” in 2023 after congressional funding intended to fix the problem. The senator argued that when original equipment manufacturers limit access to technical data, the military cannot produce or repair parts on its own and that giving the services broader repair rights would improve readiness and lower costs.
The witness agreed on the importance of the C-5, saying it “is a key aircraft for us” and that it can provide roughly 20% of Transcom’s lift in some scenarios. He said DoD’s ability to repair and reverse-engineer parts when contractors cannot meet demand will increase readiness.
Senators noted a pilot program in last year’s NDAA to reverse-engineer parts for sole-source programs and discussed a proposed Service Member Right to Repair bill that would secure repair rights at the contracting stage. The witness expressed support for increased repair flexibility to keep aircraft mission-capable.
Committee members requested a complete list of unfunded requirements and supported strong advocacy for the equipment and authorities the command needs to sustain readiness.
