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MK-82 fell off from F-16 and rolled close to other bombs at Homestead ARB

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An accident occurred at Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB) on Dec. 15 which triggered an evacuation of base personnel.

U.S Air Force Tech. Sgt. Micah Parcher, munitions line delivery assigned to the 140th Wing Maintenance Group, Colorado Air National Guard, tightens components on an MK-82 500 pound bomb, in support of the live ammunition drop during Saber Strike 18, Amari Air Base, Estonia, June 4, 2018. Saber Strike 18 is the eighth iteration of the long-standing U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise designed to enhance interoperability among allies and regional partners. This year’s exercise will take place June 3-15, focusing on improving land and air operational capabilities with an additional key objective to train with NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battlegroups. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Bobbie Reynolds)

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Rapid Dragon program derived its name from ancient Chinese crossbow called 急龙车

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The U.S. Air Force’s Rapid Dragon program has carried out its first live fire test on Dec. 16 and the Air Force Research Laboratory has revealed how the project got its name.

Once the Palletized Munition Deployment System was stabilized under the parachutes, the production long range cruise missile STV and mass simulants were released sequentially, timed for safe separation between munitions. The photo shows a successful separation of a STV from the sabot following the weapon release, followed by the deployment of the STV’s control surfaces (wings and tail). (Courtesy photo)

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