Military role for supersonic biz jet?

[mickjoebill]

Is the proposed 1000mph 4000 mile range aerion biz jet a suitable candidate as a military platform?

Yes, any wing mounted missiles would require a $100 million dollar certification program...

https://aerionsupersonic.com/




Mjb

[Martin the Martian]

I always remember somebody once very seriously telling me that there was always a Concorde somewhere all bombed up and ready to go 'just in case'.

I never could work out what Concorde could achieve that a fleet of Tornados, Buccaneers, Jaguars and Harriers couldn't. Or, for that matter, a SSBN.

[ORAC]

Martin...

You obviously haven’t read “The Laundry Files”......

https://thelaundryfiles.fandom.com/wiki/Concorde

[NutLoose]

Originally Posted by Martin the Martian

I always remember somebody once very seriously telling me that there was always a Concorde somewhere all bombed up and ready to go 'just in case'.

I never could work out what Concorde could achieve that a fleet of Tornados, Buccaneers, Jaguars and Harriers couldn't. Or, for that matter, a SSBN.

Well it would get there quicker than the rest of them, whilst serving decent inflight food with a silver service and the opportunity to take the plonker(s) that thought it all up in the first place along for the ride.


..

[Ken Scott]

Concorde v F4 air combat fully explored in this film...!!

[Lima Juliet]

The 1968 RAF Year Book suggested a military Concorde armed with BLUE STEEL.

[dead_pan]

I was vaguely aware of this programme but a quick Google search revealed a whole array of artist's impressions, suggesting it is some way from a final design.

Would be popular liaison platform I'm sure...

[GlobalNav]

This “airplane” has been an expensive figment in some people’s minds for decades. It’s been “right around the corner” almost as long as cold fusion. It will be a long time yet, if ever, that it’s ready for commercial or military use. But it’s a useful exercise for improving one’s PowerPoint skills.

[atakacs]

Originally Posted by Martin the Martian

I never could work out what Concorde could achieve that a fleet of Tornados, Buccaneers, Jaguars and Harriers couldn't. Or, for that matter, a SSBN.

Range would come to mind. Remove the passenger cabin and most of the comfort devices, add a few extra internals tanks and all the sudden you have a supersonic aircraft capable of much, much longer missions than any of the one you mentioned. Remember also that Concorde was altitude and hence performance limited by regulatory limits (ie FL600 max). A "militarized" version could conceivably do M2.3-2.5 @ Fl700+ (edited) for say 5-6000nm. Now was there an actual use for such an aircraft is another story altogether ?

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by atakacs

(ie FL600 max). A "militarized" version could conceivably do M2.3-2.5 @ Fl70+ for say 5-6000nm. Now was there an actual use for such an aircraft is another story altogether ?

I presume you meant 'FL700+'.

[ORAC]

Range would come to mind. Remove the passenger cabin and most of the comfort devices, add a few extra internals tanks and all the sudden you have a supersonic aircraft capable of much, much longer missions

Concorde constantly transferred fuel between tanks to adjust CoG fir supersonic flights. “Just” adding a few extra internal tanks would have involved an awful lot of work and trials, if feasible at all.

CONCORDE SST : FUEL SYSTEMS

[Davef68]

As a manned target/aggressor perhaps. Or transporting small SF teams somewhere quickly (although hardly inconspicuous)

[ORAC]

Only if it resembled a current threat - and that disappeared once the Russians developed the AS-15 cruise missile their Bear and Blackjack bombers could launch when flying in circuit at the bases around Murmansk with more than enough range to reach the UK at low level.

We did hire it on a couple of occasions to do figure of eights around the North Sea when BA were struggling to set up their charter business - an awful lot of work for not a great deal of realistic training benefit.