SDPE’s Rapid Dragon Capability Demonstrated in Norway

The Air Force Rapid Dragon Experimentation Program, led and developed by the Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) office, part of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Integrated Capabilities Directorate, in partnership with U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR), successfully completed a live fire of a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) long-range cruise missile on a Norwegian range. The Rapid Dragon Palletized Effects System, capable of deploying long-range cruise missiles using standard airdrop procedures from a cargo aircraft, was successfully deployed from an MC-130J Commando II.
The operational MC-130J aircrew from the 352nd Special Operations Wing airdropped a Rapid Dragon deployment system containing long-range cruise missiles which were sequentially released on a range over the Norwegian Sea as part of U.S. European Command approved, U.S. Special Operations Command led Operational Series ATREUS.
“Now, more than ever we must take a different approach to accelerating capability to the warfighter,” said AFRL Commander Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle. “Rapid Dragon is a fantastic example of the speed at which technologists and warfighters can work — the design, development, prototyping and experimentation of new capabilities can get to the field on operationally relevant timelines.”
Although the Rapid Dragon Experimentation Program has been focused on kinetic munitions, the program’s efforts are now expanding from Palletized Munitions to Palletized Effects, which include kinetic and non-kinetic munitions; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms; cargo resupply; and humanitarian aid delivery.
ATREUS began in April 2021 to identify and conduct training opportunities on capabilities found throughout the theater that enable response options to the U.S. and NATO allies and partners. Previous ATREUS training events have focused on the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, capability with participation from Romania, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Latvia.
This is the seventh iteration of ATREUS in the European theater but the first combined and joint effort with participation from ally nations of Norway, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom as well as United States Air Force Europe-Air Forces Africa, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific, and U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command.
Top Stories
INSIDERDefense
Army Launches M1E3 Tank Development, Cancels M1 Abrams Upgrade Program -...
INSIDERAerospace
The B-21 Raider Starts Flight Testing - Mobility Engineering Technology
INSIDERAerospace
Air Force Awards JetZero $235 Million to Develop Blended Wing Body Demonstrator...
INSIDERDefense
Air Force Receives First eVTOL Six Months Ahead of Schedule - Mobility...
INSIDERDefense
Air Force to Buy Archer eVTOL Under New Contracts - Mobility Engineering...
ArticlesAerospace
Rim-Driven Electric Aircraft Propulsion - Mobility Engineering Technology
Webcasts
Medical
What Really Changed: A Look at the Updated FDA Guidance Document...
Automotive
Electrifying Off-Highway Drivetrains
Automotive
NVH Prediction in Electric Powertrains: Considering Inverter and...
Manufacturing & Prototyping
The Smaller the Part, the Bigger the Advantages of Miniature Aluminum Extrusions
Defense
Here's an Idea: How AI is Changing Military Aircraft Maintenance and More
Manufacturing & Prototyping
Precision, Control and Repeatability: Harnessing the Power of UV Curing in...