Back in the 1990s when the B-2 Spirit bomber was still not fully deployed I wrote one of my first published pieces, a letter to the editor at the Washington Post.
There I argued that considering the demise of the Soviet Union, and lack of other near-term nuclear threats, the U.S. Air Force should consider buying a fleet of militarized 747 aircraft armed with dozens of nuclear-tipped AGM-86 air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs), instead of the obscenely expensive stealth B-2.
These aircraft would not need to penetrate heavily contested enemy airspace, but could fire their weapons from a safe stand-off distance.
Clearly my letter didn’t have much of an effect on the Pentagon’s plans, as we bought 21 of these B-2 bombers.
But I wasn’t the only one proposing the 747 CMCA (Cruise Missile Carrier Aircraft), and today the idea is getting another look under the ‘Rapid Dragon’ concept.
Regarding the original concept, 19fortyfive explains:
The long-serving B-52 Stratofortress was able to carry around 20 of these 1,500-mile-range missiles, but the proposed 747 CMCA (Cruise Missile Carrier Aircraft) would have flown with a whopping 72 onboard. The weapons would have pre-programmed target data that could be adjusted from within the onboard command center, and would be launched one at a time in rapid succession from a door near the tail of the aircraft.
Because of the existing global infrastructure for the operation of 747s already in place and a production line already in operation, this effort seemed both promising and cost-effective. The 747 CMCA could carry nearly three times the cruise missiles of a B-52 at nearly 1/3 the price per flight hour.
The Air Force’s current Rapid Dragon concept is similar to the CMCA idea but would use existing standard military cargo planes (C-130s and C-17s) as the missile launch vehicles, and the missiles would initially likely be a version of the AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) with ranges over 1,000 miles.
And 19fortyfive adds:
Rather than customizing specific aircraft for the arsenal ship role, Rapid Dragon uses self-contained palletized munitions called “deployment boxes” that can be loaded aboard any C-130 (in a six-missile magazine) or C-17 (with a nine-missile magazine). These modular deployment boxes allow for the maximum variety in both weapons deployed and space utilized while keeping production costs low.
The deployment boxes are loaded like any other airdrop pallet and then deployed while airborne without the need for any modifications to the aircraft itself, in what the Air Force Research Laboratory calls “roll-on roll-off capability.”
Once the order has been given to deploy the weapons, the crew onboard the cargo aircraft go about their business just like any standard airdrop, with parachutes deploying to orient and stabilize the deployment box for the missiles to launch. Once ready, the onboard control box begins releasing AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles individually to prevent them from conflicting with one another. Each missile then deploys its small wings and control surfaces, fires up its engines, and pulls up into its traditionally horizontal flight path.
Rapid Dragon, named after the ancient Chinese siege weapon from around 950 AD known as “Rapid Dragon Carts,” could also turn cargo planes into deadly ship-hunting platforms over the vast expanses of the Pacific. In December, the Air Force successfully hit a “maritime target” with a cruise missile deployed from a C-130.
And like the old Chinese system that launched multiple arrows from a single crossbow catapult, the U.S. Rapid Dragon system could saturate enemy airspace with a large volley of low-observable cruise missiles at relatively low cost and low risk.
Communist China may not be amused that the Rapid Dragon weapon system could be devastating in a conflict against the very nation that gave it its name.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AmericanActionNews.com
Deploy to Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, Australia alone
Gee, I thought maybe someone could plant Biden in the Communist Party. Let him F**k China up the same way he’s F**ked the US up.
“Secret” weapon revealed- the. It isn’t secret.
We need to Hit them in the pocket book too. Let US be independent totally. ,
What a secret, tell them what u want to do, that is why they say, u can’t fix stupid. Is there an ounce of intelligence, in this corrupt,hidenbiden administration, don’t think so.
Using scarce logistical platforms as jury rigged bombers makes no sense whatsoever
Use the 1,000’s of surplus airliners for bombers or cargo planes. The real Junkers for R/C suicide drones. The airline fleet is part of the airlift reserve for the military. Use what you got. WW3 is started or about to.
That’s a good secret weapon when you’re unveiling it for China to see.
That sounds like Biden’s clown house of communist Democrats
China is paying Biden to screw up America and they’re giving Hunter all the fentanyl and crack he can use for free, it’s just got to be the most stupidest administration ever and I think Biden wants to go down in history as the president who destroyed America along with the military who won’t do anything about the Constitution they’re sworn to uphold, while Brandon breaks every law in the Constitution, and silly woke Milley and his goon won’t do damn thing about it, because he is job scared that he can’t find a job where they hire stupid people.
OLD idea. In the early ‘80s successful tests were run where we used the magnificent C5 (unappreciated, but far advanced) to test launch Minute Man IIIs via parachute extraction over the North Pacific. At the time the Soviets had no defense against such a platform. Now retired, I flew 3 of these missions. The concept helped Regan destroy the Soviet Union.