Air Force (Air Force) The United States, within the framework of the Rapid Dragon concept, conducted a test of the MC-130J Commando II aircraft in the Arctic, during which a training dump of a pallet with AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) cruise stealth missiles was worked out. This is reported by The Drive.
"This puts this thing in the reach of Russia. We are deliberately trying to be provocative without escalating. We are trying to contain Russian aggression, expansive behavior, showing the expanded capabilities of the allies," Stars and Stripes quotes the statement of Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Melnikov of the European Special Operations Command.
As the American corporation Lockheed Martin reported in September 2021, the Rapid Dragon concept turns aircraft "into deadly platforms for cruise missiles that can increase the strike capability of tactical fighters and strategic bombers." It was noted that the use of pallets allows "to strike from more airfields and hit more targets."
