BOEING WILL ground-test an advanced weapons-carriage concept under a $2.5 million US Air Force technology-demonstration contract. The Weapons Carriage Technology programme "...will deliver advanced, multiple-purpose, weapon-suspension and release equipment", the USAF says.
The technology is aimed at "...future multi-mission aircraft...that will carry a variety of current and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons internally and externally", the USAF says. The next-generation Joint Strike Fighter is a prime candidate.
Boeing says that it will demonstrate "...highly evolved, affordable and reliable weapons suspension and release technology...which can be employed in several different ways and is much easier to support than current systems". Weapons-carriage specialist EDO will be Boeing's prime subcontractor.
Source: Flight International
