As already announced by Admiral Anderson the Clone Air Force is to refurbish 80 older K44 transports which are approaching their end of fatigue lives. The planes will be fully refurbished, given new engines, updated avionics and have strengthened floors and improved rear ramps. The refurbished planes will be known as the K44LE (for Life Extension)
New build of K44s will continue but at a minimum rate, the production line is one of the lines which has strategic protection and must be kept open (the K85 COIN aircraft and Tapir IFV are also protected).
