Daryl Hunt
Your Worst Nightmare
- Banned
- #1,781
The LRASM is operational. It's operation on the B-1 at this time but is programed come online with the F-18 this year. meaning, the F-35 as well. I don't see the B-1 to be the major carrier of it since the range of the missile is limited to no more than 300 miles and that also limits the F-18 but it sounds like it's ideal for subs and the F-35.Dude it's a "science and technology" project, not some harbinger of end of platforms that would launch them. I get you're all enamored with the cheap swarm thing, but I don't think you've given much thought to practical application just some vague notion of something that appeals to you. Did you see the part in your link where they talk about using B-52s, F-15Es, F-35s, etc. to launch them or did you just gloss over that part and imagine some inexpensive wonder-weapon that flies 5,000 miles on it's own with a warp drive powered by dlithium crystals?Swarms are being prepared. Big, valuable targets are strategically passé. Targets have to get smaller or be able to disappear. Attack is reaching a point of superiority over defense. Only superior swarms might work.
"Mr. President,...Mr. President, we must not allow a mine-shaft gap!
Air Force awards 'Gray Wolf' networked missile contract -- Defense Systems
USAF Wants Swarms of Cheap "Gray Wolf" Cruise Missiles That Can Overwhelm Enemy Defenses
A networked missile is nothing new, see LRASM.
A followon is coming in 2024. I imagine that a smaller version will be introduced for the F-35 that it can carry internally but so far, it will have to be carried externally making the existing platform not really ready for prime time. Swarm weapons are coming butt they just aren't quite there yet.