US Air Force tests dropping cruise missiles from ramp of cargo aircraft
Garrett Reim By Garrett Reim28 May 2020
The US Air Force (USAF) is moving forward with an experiment to drop cruise missiles from the back ramp of cargo aircraft.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) successfully tested releasing mock cruise missiles on 28 January 2020 from the cargo ramp of the Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II, the service says on 27 May.
Dropping cruise missiles from cargo aircraft is considered a cheaper alternative to designing a clean-sheet bomber. USAF leaders have recently discussed the possibility of developing an “Arsenal Planeâ€, a new bomber which would carry large numbers of cruise missiles into combat.
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-air-force-tests-dropping-cruise-missiles-from-ramp-of-cargo-aircraft/138598.article
