Aviation Daily Reports Air Force Eyes Modified Jumbo Jet For Future Cruise Missile Strike Role.

Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2001

A long-range wide-body aircraft similar to a modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet airliner could launch dozens of cruise missiles far from the war zone to destroy enemy targets in a concept under study by the U.S. Air Force, Aerospace Daily will report Monday, July 16, 2001.

Such a "long-range strike platform" has been added to a key planning document, written by the service's Future Concept Development office, an Air Force official told Aerospace Daily in an interview July 12.

"Its mission is to be a truck... carrying a lot of cruise missiles," he said. Because the aircraft would operate far from enemy defenses, it would not require stealth qualities.

If adopted, the concept could lead to an operational aircraft in about 20 years, the official said.

When conditions permitted closer-range operations, he said, the aircraft could launch yet-to-be-developed missiles flying at five to ten times the speed of sound to destroy critical targets such as enemy ballistic missiles on the ground.

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