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Rapid Dragon

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Old 23rd Sep 2021, 13:31
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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Rapid Dragon


https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...iles-in-action

Our Best Look Yet At 'Rapid Dragon' Cargo Plane-Launched Stealth Cruise Missiles In Action


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Old 23rd Sep 2021, 13:45
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Back in the Dark Ages, a former OC 5 Sqn and I discussed his concept for a similar arrangement for AAMs out if the back of a C-130. His idea was to fill the North Sea skies with missiles, instead of heading back to Binbrook after you’d used your 2 and run short of fuel.

I hope Strets is still around to read about this.
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Old 23rd Sep 2021, 13:50
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And from 18 years ago: Long Range Non Penetrator (lrnp)
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Old 23rd Sep 2021, 15:56
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Or the stripped down P-8

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...e-arsenal-ship
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Old 23rd Sep 2021, 17:25
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I was expecting a discussion about this:



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Hav..._Dragon_Rapide
I'm bitterly disappointed.



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Old 23rd Sep 2021, 17:34
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Just to please you dirtyprop, here is one I took earlier, or is that two.



now back on topic…
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Old 23rd Sep 2021, 18:46
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Quick way for the RAF to make up for losing so many strike interdiction squadrons - wonder how many the A-400M could carry as well as the C-17….
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Old 23rd Sep 2021, 19:12
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Ex 5 Sqn myself and also in Jersey!
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Old 23rd Sep 2021, 19:13
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MPN11, you talking about Mad Dog?
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Old 24th Sep 2021, 09:01
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Originally Posted by ORAC
MPN11, you talking about Mad Dog?
That may well have been one of his names, but can't confirm - although it rings a bell. We only crossed paths in the MoD environment, where things were calmer! He was OC 5 in the 1982 timeframe.

Last edited by MPN11; 24th Sep 2021 at 09:33.
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Old 24th Sep 2021, 21:57
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Interesting. Are we coming around to the Dale Brown idea.
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Old 25th Sep 2021, 20:06
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Boeing looked at the 747 carrying up to 72 air launched cruise missiles.. info

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/america...uise-missiles/
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Old 25th Sep 2021, 20:39
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Originally Posted by ORAC
Quick way for the RAF to make up for losing so many strike interdiction squadrons - wonder how many the A-400M could carry as well as the C-17….
C-17 I think I read was 9 pallets of 9
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Old 26th Sep 2021, 07:34
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Originally Posted by rattman
C-17 I think I read was 9 pallets of 9
Wooohhoo, that would be quite some serious punch....
That said, looking at the weight of the JASSM plus some racks this seems a bit too much from my perspective. Also cg chantge while dropping would be interesting how they cope with it.
Also length wise 9 would be probably a bit too much. I would guess 7 -8 racks should be feasible though, cg change notwihstanding.
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Old 26th Sep 2021, 09:48
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Then, there was the proof of concept of dropping an ICBM out the back of a C-5 for air mobile launch


One possible development of the Rapid Dragon model could be dropping large concentrations of BVR air to air missles, with the racks falling slowly (or suspended on balloons) and data linked to other aircraft that designate the targets.

JAS
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Old 26th Sep 2021, 11:02
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Can’t see that. They never be optimally located for a target and would lose the kinetic advantage provided by a high and fast launch aircraft.

There are proposals of course for AAM carrying drones deployed up threat of the fighter screen with the fighters providing target allocation and initial guidance to place the drone in the correct launch position. Which means the fighter doesn’t have to carry all the missiles, can extend its endurance, and can be rearmed with the launch of reinforcement drones. Which is exactly what Longshot is designed for…

https://www.popularmechanics.com/mil...ject-longshot/

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Old 18th Dec 2021, 07:03
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https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...cruise-missile

Special Operations C-130 Hits Target With A 'Rapid Dragon' Pallet-Dropped Cruise Missile
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Old 18th Dec 2021, 22:44
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Daft Observation

Ladies and Gents,

I have been blown away by the ingenuity thats gone into this program, its becoming very much like something from the pages of Dale Brown.

But an observation if I may, the concept is that you throw out a pallet of 6 jassams they drop out and fly off to their aim points, one wee question, what happens if you don't require all 6 weapons, or is this purely intended for pre-planned saturation attacks against a peer enemy?

Regards

Mark
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Old 19th Dec 2021, 10:26
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Originally Posted by DirtyProp
I was expecting a discussion about this:



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Hav..._Dragon_Rapide
I'm bitterly disappointed.
But that's a Dragon Rapide not a Dragon like the one I flew in as G-ADDI.
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Old 19th Dec 2021, 13:48
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C-17 New Role

So if the C-17 will be dispensing munitions, does that make it a B-17 then?
Just asking for a friend

BL


​​​​​​​
Originally Posted by ORAC
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