I think they are planning on using the SDB 2 fitted with a tri-mode seeker and set to air burst for the anti-swarming small craft role but I think I would rather have a naval aviation and ship based solution to this problem rather than rely on B-1B’s 😉

Hornet’s, Harrier’s and Seahawk’s armed with JCM missiles and APKWS rockets and ships with boxes of Netfires missiles on deck seem like a better idea for defence to me.

I would like to see a tanker/bomber enter service.

The V-bombers were almost tanker/bombers anyway and a new design could use off the shelf systems and equipment from a current airliner and the offensive and defensive systems from a current fighter/bomber in a new design airframe.

Let’s say you take the engines, electrics, hydraulics and undercarriage from a Airbus A320 and the radar, targeting pod, communications/navigation gear and the defensive aids sub system from a Eurofighter Typhoon and fit them in a Boeing Sonic Cruiser type airframe with a two-four man cockpit (with a toilet 😀 ) and a weapons bay for 12x Storm Shadow cruise missiles or the equivalent load of bombs or a fuel tank and probe and drogue refuelling system. AMRAAM, ASRAAM and ALARM missiles could be carried for self-defence too.

Basically this aircraft would do the same missions as a B-1B (high threat stand-off attack, low threat close air support) and buddy refuel it’s escorts 🙂

Here are some inspirational pics 😉

Who can tell me how many pylons under Rafale’s wing with picture proving?

😉

Skydiver in record Channel flight http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3112095.stm

I hear that someone with one of these wing kits is planning to land without a parachute soon 😮

I’ve heared that Tomcat-21 project plan Super Tomcat would carry over 12 long-range A-A missile, I faintlly remember there is some pix showed mockup carry such many missiles. Who can show me those pix?

These test shapes for a new missile could be what you mean, they have appeared in a previous thread too http://parisairshow.free.fr/walkaround/f-14/page_01.htm

Super Tomcat 21 pics and info here http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0132.shtml

The B-52 chaff rocket pod was AN/ALE-25 which was part of the Phase IV ECM modifications done to the G/H models in 1964/66. The pod was phased out in 1970. The Chaff rocket designation was ADR-8A, The chaff rocket fit is shown in the Aerofax Datafile on the BUFF (not the Detail and Scale one) which also showed the proposed self defence penetration fit with AMRAAM and Tacit Rainbow (offensive weapons fit being in the front half of the bomb bay).

Info and pics here http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/r-8.html

Jaguars strafing http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/ranges14.html