US Defense Analyst on Military Potential and Armament Assurance David Raymers in material for 19FortyFive proposed to arm civilian planes with rockets. He believes that this will save the impact potential after reducing the number of bombers.
Raymers noted that the US Air Force completed the conclusion from operation of 17 B-1B Lancer bombers, each of which could carry 24 winged air-surface lockets. According to the analyst, the US Navy is preparing for the completion of the service of part of ships with rocket weapons.
According to Raymers, the loss of bombers can be compensated for by the use of civil aircraft as a platform for starting the winged rockets. The analyst noted that at the end of the 1970s, Boeing offered a project to use the 747-200c liner as a carrier of the winged missiles (CMCA, Cruise Missile Carrier Aircraft).
The project assumed the placement of launchers with AGM-86 missiles in the cargo compartment of the liner. One passenger Boeing could carry 72 rockets. To start the ammunition, the plane received an additional hatch.
The author notes that in modern conditions, Boeing 777-300, 777-300er or 747-400F aircraft can be made by carriers of rockets, from which civil operators refuse. In his opinion, to carry the winged rockets, the aircraft will require minimal modernization. In particular, the liners can get upgraded cargo compartment and accessories.
Raymers stressed that the fuselage of the Boeing 777-300er can accommodate 152 rockets, and the two-link Boeing 747 will save the cost of delivery of ammunition. Also, civil liners will be able to use military and civil airports, while the appearance of aircraft will allow to disguise the carriers of weapons among civil liners.
Earlier, 19FortyFive commented on the possibilities of the possibility of transport refrigerator “Ivan Papanin” to carry rockets in containers. The publication emphasized that rockets and durable corps will allow the vehicle to act in the Arctic without additional support.