Motherships: The Air Force Wants Its Cargo Planes to Be Drone Carriers
In the near-future, C-130 or C-17 cargo planes could carry drones into battle and get recover and refueld and rearm them.
Many weapons developers think of Air Force cargo planes such as C-17s and C-130 as primarily transport platforms able to deliver supplies, weapons and forces engaged in forward positioned combat operations. However, the service is increasingly considering also using these kinds of aircraft for actual attacks instead of just cargo transport.
There have been several interesting innovations, now at various stages of development, including efforts to arm cargo planes with bombs and operate them as aerial drone “motherships” able to launch and recover drones in high-threat combat circumstances.
Air Force Cargo, Tanker Planes Need to Do More in Next War: Van Ovost
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40-Hour Bombing Missions? No Problem The B-2 Bomber Is Ready
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Here s What You Need to Remember: “The B-2 is one of the most game-changing aircraft ever built…and one of the most cost-effective. One B-2 can deliver the punch of an entire aircraft carrier air wing at several orders of magnitude less in operating cost and personnel,” Deptula said.
When B-2 stealth bombers attacked Serbia on the opening night of Operation Allied Force in 1999, destroyed Iraqi air defenses during 2003’s “Shock and Awe” and eliminated the Libyan fighter force in 2011 the attacks were all guided by highly-specialized pilots trained in stealth attack tactics.
Given the dangers of these kinds of missions, such as flying into heavy enemy ground fire from air defenses, confronting the prospect of air attacks and preparing for electronic warfare over hostile territory, B-2 pilots need to be ready. For this reason, the Air Force is working to ensure that pilots are prepared to fully leverage upgraded digital targeting technology.