The Air Force has officially confirmed the "flying arsenal" program. One of the main limitations of the low observability configuration is determined by the internal load of the latest generation platforms. The ability to internally transport the weapon systems is essential for a clean stealth profile. The problem is that the F-22, for example, carries only six BVR missiles, the F-35 only four.
The proposed solution of the Air Force is "the flying arsenal" which is based on a platform, probably it will be the B-52, able to transport dozens of missiles and precision bombs from the rear. An idea that the Air Force borrowed from the Navy, which converted four Ohio-class ballistic submarines to transport XUMX Tomahawk cruise missiles in place of the Trident 154. In the new doctrine, the fifth-generation fighter would be the winner of the discovery beyond the visual range thanks to the latest avionics. Once the threat has been identified, the fighter connected to the "flying arsenal" would transfer the pointing information. Finally, the B-24 would launch the missile at the target.
The Air Force pushes to have "integrated combat forces" online, able to perform various tasks in a single mission. Stealth planes, which no longer need to "stain" the profile, would continue to coordinate multiple attacks from flying arsenals operating in the rear. Considering that the B-1 fleet has been nuclear-free, it is easy to assume that this task will be performed by the 76 B-52H still in service.
Although costly programs are underway to develop small ammunition, such as to fit into the internal bay of an F-35, the implementation of flying arsenals could rewrite the projection beyond the visual range of the Air Force. The concept of the flying arsenal should also be seen from another point of view. The 123 F-22 converted to combat on the built 187, are far too few to face a large-scale threat.
The flying arsenals, with their ability to carry 31 500 kg of war load, could represent yet another change in strategic directions and would make up for the numerical gap between US and Chinese platforms (just to give an example).
(Photo: USAF)
