Airborne Minuteman
Program
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
The Airborne Minuteman concept - Minuteman missiles carried by a 747-type wide-bodied jumbo jet - was presented as a possible alternative to the Navy's Trident program in 1971. It was brought up again by the USAF over the years.
The concept was to address the vulnerability of fixed ICBM siloes as Soviet missiles improved in accuracy. Despite many studies, briefings, models, and test drops, the concept never gained traction. A 747 would typically carry four Minutemen. However ground alert made the aircraft vulnerable to destruction in a short-range SLBM first strike; and airborne alert was too expensive.
Chronology
1 event
1971 November 3
LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Airborne Minuteman.- Airborne Minuteman concept. - . The Airborne Minuteman concept - Minuteman missiles carried by a 747-type wide-bodied jumbo jet - was presented as a possible alternative to the Navy's Undersea Long-Range Missile Systems (ULMS)..