Aircraft
Weaponized Airlifters Are Becoming Reality
Dropping munitions from transport aircraft is being tested as part of the “arsenal plane” concept to deliver increased numbers of long-range weapons.
The only picture to have been released to date of the palletized munitions trials shows a CEP pallet loaded with two simulated Cleaver weapons being rolled from the ramp of an MC-130J over the Dugway Proving Ground. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)
The only picture to have been released to date of the palletized munitions trials shows a CEP pallet loaded with two simulated Cleaver weapons being rolled from the ramp of an MC-130J over the Dugway Proving Ground. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)

For some time, the U.S. Air Force has been studying the use of cargo aircraft as platforms for the air-launching of large numbers of network-enabled, semi-autonomous standoff missiles. These so-called “arsenal planes” could complement traditional bombers and fighter-bombers in delivering a much heavier punch in a large-scale attack.


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