Right. The premise sounded promising enough: gut the commercially available, and widely utilized 747, and replace the innards with around 100 long-range munitions. By using the 747-200C, nose loaded version, the nose cone is simply opened, and pre-loaded racks are just rolled right in.
Meanwhile, the upper hump becomes a limited command and control center. With huge range, massive payload (evidently 4 times the cruise missile capacity of the B-52), and low cost of entry due to the commercially available frame, it seems like it would have been a brilliant idea.
Likely even more so now, with GPS guided munitions, and smaller munition options than the AGM-86. The thing could simply loiter over combat areas, at high altitude, with drones providing intel at lower altitudes; dropping what is needed when, and where.
But would it really have been all it was cracked up to be?
Thoughts?
Meanwhile, the upper hump becomes a limited command and control center. With huge range, massive payload (evidently 4 times the cruise missile capacity of the B-52), and low cost of entry due to the commercially available frame, it seems like it would have been a brilliant idea.
Likely even more so now, with GPS guided munitions, and smaller munition options than the AGM-86. The thing could simply loiter over combat areas, at high altitude, with drones providing intel at lower altitudes; dropping what is needed when, and where.
But would it really have been all it was cracked up to be?
Thoughts?