Long shot - Flying missile rail

DARPA's LongShot plans to flight demo a weapon system thatwill significantly increaserange and effectiveness against air threats by creating new engagement concepts for multi-modal, multi-kill systems, launched from fighters and bombers, that can engage more than 1 target. Probably the improve version of the flying missile rail?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1228725223568105475

Could be very useful against these bomber with high powered laser

DARPA's LongShot plans to flight demo a weapon system thatwill significantly increaserange and effectiveness against air threats by creating new engagement concepts for multi-modal, multi-kill systems, launched from fighters and bombers, that can engage more than 1 target. Probably the improve version of the flying missile rail?

Capture.PNG

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1228725223568105475

Could be very useful against these bomber with high powered laser

FLying missile rail.png

Where is this picture from? (fmr used to engage the HEL platform)

1 page PDF excerpt attached below with this text etc....

Department of Defense Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget Estimates
Feb 2020 DARPA

Title: LongShot
Description: The goal of the LongShot program is to develop and flight demonstrate a weapon system using multi-mode propulsion that significantly increases engagement range and weapon effectiveness against adversary air threats. LongShot will explore new engagement concepts for multi-modal, multi-kill systems that can engage more than one target. LongShot can be deployed either externally from existing fighters or internally from existing bombers. An air system using multi-modal propulsion could capitalize upon a slower speed, higher fuel-efficient air vehicle for ingress, while retaining highly energetic air-to-air missiles for endgame target engagements. This approach provides several key benefits, which ultimately increase weapon effectiveness.

First, the weapon system will have a much-increased range over their legacy counterparts for transit to an engagement zone.

Second, launching air-to-air missiles closer to the adversary increases energy in terminal flight, reduces reaction time, and increases probability of kill. The program will also evaluate other applications of multi-mode propulsion. Potential transition partners include the Navy and Air Force...."

Title: Gunslinger
Description: The Gunslinger program will develop and demonstrate technologies to enable an air-launched tactical range missile system capable of multi-mission support. This system will utilize the high maneuverability of a missile system coupled with a gun system capable of scalable effects and engagement of multiple targets. These mission sets addressed will include counter insurgency (COIN) operations, close air support (CAS) and air-to-air engagements. The metrics associated with this system include total range (which includes transit to target, loiter and engagement) and weapon system effectiveness. The program will address the system and technology issues required to enable development of a robust missile system considering (1) vehicle concepts possessing the required aerodynamic, propulsion, and payload capacity for a wide operational envelope, (2) the algorithms that support maneuvering and target recognition to enable expedited command decision making for selecting and engaging targets and (3) approaches to incorporating modularity of design to reduce cost throughout the design and development process. The anticipated transition partners for this effort are the Air Force and the Navy...."

Source: https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals ... B_2021.pdf (5.8Mb)

More of the same.

DARPA to Design Two Unique New Missiles for USAF
20 Feb 2020 Rachel S. Cohen

"DARPA wants to bring a gun to a missile fight [“Gunslinger”].....

...DARPA asks for $13.3 million to start the program in 2021. The design is one of the latest ideas in the military’s push toward weapons that carry other munitions and payloads, or that network between munitions in new ways. The agency didn’t say which aircraft could carry the new missile.

The Air Force and Navy are also potential customers for DARPA’s LongShot program, another weapon effort slated to start in 2021.

LongShot would use “multi-mode propulsion” to significantly boost its range and effectiveness against multiple airborne threats at once, according to the agency’s budget request. The program calls for $22 million in its first year.

“LongShot will explore new engagement concepts for multi-modal, multi-kill systems that can engage more than one target,” DARPA wrote. “LongShot can be deployed either externally from existing fighters or internally from existing bombers.”

The futuristic development agency imagines the weapon could travel slower to its destination to burn less fuel, then zip toward its target once it’s close.

“This approach provides several key benefits,” DARPA said. “First, the weapon system will have a much-increased range over their legacy counterparts for transit to an engagement zone. Second, launching air-to-air missiles closer to the adversary increases energy in terminal flight, reduces reaction time, and increases probability of kill.”..."

Source: https://www.airforcemag.com/darpa-to-de ... -for-usaf/

Like a Sizzler for planes.