Free Republic

A new system to resist terrorist bombs smuggled onto aircraft has been tested in dramatic experiments. A device called FlyBag is designed to absorb the shockwaves and shrapnel caused by explosions. If security fails and a bomb reaches the luggage hold, the idea is that the blast would be safely contained. The trials - using old jets at Cotswolds Airport in Gloucestershire - showed that explosions on board caused no damage. The bag involves a novel mix of four different layers of material including one based on Kevlar, which is used in bullet-proof jackets. The idea is that the bag...

The U.S. Air Force continues development of its innovative, but infrequently used, 250 pound SDB (Small Diameter Bomb). The latest improvement is an encrypted data link, that will enable the SDB to hit moving targets. The new communications capability enables the SDB movement to be controlled via the air force's airborne Internet (Link 16). This capability is one of the main improvements to be seen in SBD II, which won’t enter service for another year or so. Meanwhile, existing SDBs have received a software upgrade that enables them to be used like a JDAM (GPS guided bomb). That is, it...