Lockheed Martin Advances Rapid Dragon Palletized Missile System Towards Production
The U.S. Air Force's Rapid Dragon program, developed with Lockheed Martin, is transitioning from experimentation to a production-ready capability. This innovative system allows standard cargo aircraft, such as the C-130 and C-17, to deploy palletized cruise missiles from their cargo holds. Following a series of successful flight tests, including a live-fire demonstration of a JASSM-ER missile, the concept has been proven effective. Lockheed Martin is now establishing a production line and is in discussion with international partners interested in acquiring this 'bomb bay in a box' technology to augment their strike capabilities.
Official Source: https://aviationweek.com/defense/missile-defense-weapons/palletized-cruise-missile-testing-production-plans-emerge
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