I'm not against improving an old system with bells and whistles. But keep that down to a dull roar, eh?
The Air Force has a new resupply method:
The Air Force has added new self-guided gliders to deliver cargo to “high-risk environments” without putting a manned aircraft in danger....
Grasshopper can carry up to 500 pounds of supplies and be launched from cargo aircraft like the C-17 and C-130 using rear ramp airdrops. It can reach speeds of 109 miles per hour and glide “tens of miles” based on drop altitude, the spokesperson said.
A precision parachute glider method was used in Afghanistan for remote outposts. I'm not sure why that simpler and cheaper method isn't still useful. But I concede that some scenarios will need a more sophisticated means of resupply. So I'm not really complaining.
Sure, this still isn't as exciting as intercontinental supply rockets. But on that path lies (expensive) madness.
Rely on the more dull stuff that works.
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NOTE: Image from the initial article.
