High Mach Weapons Release:

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The Air Force and Boeing has demonstrated the ability to release munitions from an aircraft weapons bay while the aircraft flies at high supersonic speeds. According to a Boeing release, during a recent test at the High-Speed Test Track at Holloman AFB, N.M., researchers from Boeing Phantom Works and Air Force Research Lab employed “active flow control” with a rocket sled to test the release of an Mk-82 Joint Direct Attack Munition at Mach-2. AFRL program manager on the effort, Jim Grove, said this innovative technology “will enable safe separation of weapons from weapons bays of future high-speed aircraft.” He also commended the use of the rocket sled as “a lower risk technology evaluation alternative to flight testing in this complex, high-risk environment.” The program is called High Frequency Excitation Active flow Control for Supersonic Weapon Release, or HIFEX for short.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org