It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.

Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.

Thank you.

 

Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.

 

Arsenal Plane gets profiled

page: 1
4

log in

join
share:

posted on Jun, 24 2016 @ 10:29 AM
link   



Despite obstacles presented by the modern acquisition process, the Department of Defense seems determined to find solutions to its ever-growing list of requirements. DARPA’s endless stream of creative programs teeter on the fine line between science fiction and reality. Defense journals and blogs alike are abuzz with recent projects executed or announced by the Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), which is focused on technological applications for current military problems. One program of note in the SCO portfolio favored by Secretary Carter is the “arsenal plane” concept, which recurs every now and then. In 1979, the Carter administration proposed a converted Boeing 747-200 as the Cruise Missile Carrier Aircraft, loaded with 72 nuclear-tipped air-launched cruise missiles. The concept briefings for the miniature air-launched decoy (MALD) are littered with images showing the MALD being dispensed from a C-130 or C-17. The concept of the “missile caddy,” which was intended to increase the number of air-to-air missiles available to a fighter, has been around at least since the 1990s. In February, the Air Force released an artist’s conception of an arsenal plane – an 8-engined aircraft resembling a cross between the B-52 and a C-5. Like many a Pentagon program, this idea has the potential to run off the rails in short order unless it is made clear that the arsenal plane concept is not a new aircraft. Not only is the idea not new, but, we already have an arsenal plane. It’s called the Stratofortress.


warontherocks.com...



posted on Jun, 24 2016 @ 01:48 PM
link   
a reply to: anzha


And the B-52, despite upgrade after upgrade is how old and is still an airplane.


The new arsenal craft won't exactly be an airplane in that it doesn't move by the use of air and thrust. Actually, it already exists in one form as the black triangles. Rather than use wings to lift its load, it simply dials up more of a field around the ship to carry away whatever the DOD wants to stuff inside. And that load can be considerable, all that can be envisioned putting into a traditional aircraft in terms of weapons, countermeasures, plus, the proverbial kitchen sink+.
On top of those attributes, add the ability to move like a UFO, speeds of several thousand of mph, and space capability and you have the arsenal ship that is a world dominator, worth the price, but yet not an old-fashioned airplane bomber as we are being led to believe.

The era of military aircraft is coming to a close. They are too slow and too difficult to defend. The Pentagon has a dilemma. How to get the public to pay for expensive new "bombers" it desperately needs with an argument that has some factual credibility to support it? They can't, exactly. So they brush aside HOW the arsenal ship will be configured and powered to focus on massive payloads in terms of weapons, counter-measures, etc. in an attempt to make their case. That is an excellent case as far as it goes, except for the fact that they don't want to admit to utilizing exotic ways of delivering that load.



posted on Jun, 24 2016 @ 03:07 PM
link   
DOESN'T ANYONE READ DALE BROWN?
I thought the B1 was being tapped as a "truck" in support of the F22.



posted on Jun, 24 2016 @ 03:22 PM
link   
a reply to: anzha

And the unpopular winner in the war of words is . . . drum roll . . .

the WALL OF TEXT.

Sigh.



posted on Jun, 25 2016 @ 01:26 AM
link   
a reply to: Aliensun

You sound, reasonably, imho,

rather certain about the exotic craft.

May I ask how you arrived at that level of certainty?



posted on Jun, 25 2016 @ 07:18 AM
link   
Exotic aircraft are a novelty but for modern warfare you will need more than a handful.



posted on Jun, 25 2016 @ 10:16 AM
link   
When I read "the Arsenal plane", I envisioned a plane full of rowdy soccer fans. All drunk.



posted on Jul, 2 2016 @ 07:10 PM
link   
a reply to: anzha

If you had an aircraft like this, wouldn't you need to modify all your missiles?

So say it loiters 100km away from the battle and F-35 wants an Aim-120, it's going to need to get it in the area so I propose the old UK Alaarm method with some changes, F-35 in combat, still undetected has a pair of bogeys, arsenal plane fires a hypersonic carrier of 3 missiles upto 50,000 ft somewhere over the battlefield, it could glide or defend slowly on a chute, F-35 locks up targets and fires them from the glidingor descending carrier?

Or is it purely a cruise missile carrier?

I don't understand how a B-52 for example could assist an F-35 in A2A.

Typhoon on the other hand, after stealth isn't required could remove all pods and just fly missile truck relying on F-35 but then you might as well just deploy supersonic stealth drones (which I would imagine are invented) to buddy the F-35 as a bomb truck?



posted on Jul, 6 2016 @ 07:46 PM
link   
Shades of....



posted on Sep, 15 2016 @ 05:36 PM
link   
Boeing sees an uparmed F-15, similar to the 2040C upgrade as a possible arsenal plane.



posted on Sep, 15 2016 @ 06:19 PM
link   
a reply to: Bedlam

Lets not let any CRAZY ideas like that get out,THE RAIDER fans might catch on...



posted on Sep, 16 2016 @ 01:58 PM
link   
a reply to: Forensick

With sensor fusion like the last test with the Navy in S2A play it could work the same with A2A and a missile truck if you can give those missiles some range of 200 or more miles.



posted on Sep, 16 2016 @ 02:07 PM
link   
Maybe dust off the B-1R concept. Up engine with the PW-F119 and load it with ramjet boosted missiles like the Meteor and that would be a hell of a force multiplier. Range, payload, and speed.

RAND also did a study about using a B-1 equipped with SM-3's and Patriots for a2a. For that matter you could perhaps mount an SM-6 and have a credible intermediate and short range ballistic missile defense system as well.
edit on 9/16/16 by FredT because: (no reason given)



posted on Sep, 16 2016 @ 02:46 PM
link   
a reply to: FredT

Where is the money coming from? That's a hugely expensive upgrade to do. The 2040 upgrade for the Eagle is already happening, minus the station 1 and 9 activation.



posted on Sep, 16 2016 @ 04:36 PM
link   
Resurrect Douglas, and have them build the Missileer.



posted on Sep, 16 2016 @ 04:52 PM
link   

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: FredT

Where is the money coming from? That's a hugely expensive upgrade to do. The 2040 upgrade for the Eagle is already happening, minus the station 1 and 9 activation.


Agreed, but if you factor in the tanker support needed for a missile truck squad of F-15's it may be worth a look. If you go with the F-15 that Boeing is talking about (16 A2A's) you are looking at what 180 missiles per squadron? Thats a standard AMRAAM and not something with a booster that would way more. I'm doubting that the KC-46 will ever be built in the numbers envisioned. Coupled with the tanker support already needed to keep F-22's on station to direct said missiles may leave a huge shortfall in tanker support for that.

The B-1 could operate with less support than that and bring decent and almost comparable loadouts.

That being said, its all theoretical until its paid for and out of development but fun to think about nonetheless



posted on Sep, 16 2016 @ 07:18 PM
link   
a reply to: FredT

The KC-46 will be built in those numbers. They have no choice if they want to have a viable tanker force. And they need them to backstop the transport fleet beyond the tanker mission. The big question is the follow on programs.



posted on Sep, 16 2016 @ 07:19 PM
link   
a reply to: FredT

I thought the B1 was a maintenance hog.



posted on Sep, 16 2016 @ 07:57 PM
link   
a reply to: cavtrooper7

They are. They'd have to almost totally rebuild them to upgrade them, or build entirely new purpose built airframes.



posted on Sep, 16 2016 @ 08:43 PM
link   
Ultimate Missile Truck...
Pew Pew Pew



new topics

top topics



 
4

log in

join