▁Martin ▁and ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Air ▁Force ▁began ▁out f itting ▁and ▁retro f itting ▁C - 1 3 0 s ▁with ▁the ▁eight - bla de ▁UTC ▁A eros pace ▁Systems ▁N P 2 0 0 0 ▁prop ellers . ▁ ▁An ▁engine ▁enh ancement ▁program ▁saving ▁fuel ▁and ▁providing ▁lower ▁temper atures ▁in ▁the ▁T 5 6 ▁engine ▁has ▁been ▁approved , ▁and ▁the ▁US ▁Air ▁Force ▁expects ▁to ▁save ▁$ 2   b ill ion ▁and ▁extend ▁the ▁fleet ▁life . ▁ ▁Rep lacement ▁In ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁released ▁a ▁capabilities ▁request ▁for ▁information ▁( CR FI ) ▁for ▁the ▁development ▁of ▁a ▁new ▁air l if ter ▁to ▁replace ▁the ▁C - 1 3 0 . ▁The ▁new ▁aircraft ▁is ▁to ▁carry ▁a ▁ 1 9 0 ▁percent ▁greater ▁payload ▁and ▁assume ▁the ▁mission ▁of ▁mounted ▁vertical ▁man eu ver ▁( M VM ). ▁The ▁greater ▁payload ▁and ▁mission ▁would ▁enable ▁it ▁to ▁carry ▁medium - weight ▁arm ored ▁vehicles ▁and ▁drop ▁them ▁off ▁at ▁locations ▁without ▁long ▁run ways . ▁ ▁Vari ous ▁options ▁are ▁being ▁considered , ▁including ▁new ▁or ▁upgrad ed ▁fixed - wing ▁designs , ▁rot or craft , ▁t ilt rot ors , ▁or ▁even ▁an ▁air ship . ▁Development ▁could ▁start ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁and ▁become ▁oper ational ▁by ▁ 2 0 2 4 . ▁The ▁C - 1 3 0 ▁fleet ▁of ▁around ▁ 4 5 0 ▁plan es