US Military Explores Converting Cargo Aircraft to Smart Drone Launch Platforms

The U.S. Air Force is actively pursuing an ambitious project to transform its cargo aircraft into launch platforms for swarms of drones. This initiative aims to enable transport aircraft to deploy AI-controlled drones directly from their bases, empowering these unmanned aerial vehicles to independently defend the installations against potential attacks. As part of these efforts, the Air Force, according to specialized reports, seeks to convert cargo planes into "adaptive, force-multiplying launch platforms," capable of providing rapidly deployable swarms for enhanced base security. This project falls under a call for proposals from the U.S. Air Force's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which set October 21 as the submission deadline. The Air Force is looking to secure a three-phase deal. A key objective of the project is to equip transport aircraft with advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, effectively turning them into "motherships" for high-altitude drones. The C-130 aircraft previously demonstrated this capability by successfully recovering an X-61 Gremlin mid-air. Furthermore, the Air Mobility Command in the United States has held discussions regarding the potential use of KC-135 refueling tankers as launch platforms for these drones.