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USAF Launch Supersonic Bomb Firing Technology

Posted by samzenpus on from the drop-it-like-it's-hot dept.

coondoggie writes "Boeing and the US Air Force today said they have tested new technology that for the first time will let military aircraft launch bombs from aircraft moving at supersonic speeds. Researchers from Boeing Phantom Works and the Air Force Research Laboratory used a rocket sled in combination with what researchers called "active flow control" to successfully release a smart bomb known as MK-82 Joint Direct Attack Munition Standard Test Vehicle (JDAM) at a speed of about Mach 2 from a weapons bay with a size approximating that of the U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber, Boeing said. Active flow control is a tandem array of microjets upstream of the weapons bay that, when fired reduces the unsteady pressures inside the bay and modifies the flow outside to ensure the JDAM munition travels out of the bay correctly."

3 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Great news everyone! by Bragador · · Score: 5, Funny
    There is no such thing as investing TOO MUCH in the military. People that are saying we should focus more money on social problems and the economy don't understand that military technology can be applied to fix social problems eventually.

    Rejoice for now we can drop food and medical supplies at supersonic speed! I can't wait to see the look on those African kids!

    1. Re:Great news everyone! by josteos · · Score: 5, Funny

      Build a Man a Fire, and he is Warm for a Day
      Set a Man on Fire, and he is Warm for the Rest of His Life

      --
      Save the Music; Save the World at http://www.TuneTriever.com (Our latest Android game)
  2. Re:Wow, very much incorrect. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    He's all like, "we've done that already, bitches", and I'm like "[citation needed]", and under my breath, I'm like, "bitches".