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.
The "Air Force One" replacement will be two to three years late due to pandemic issues, testing, and the loss of a subcontractor on the interior, USAF officials reported at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. They were also warned that some HASC members will insist on a competition of…