[Yo-Yo]

How many 747's can we lay our hands on in the time of war?

Using 747s at cruise missile carriers is not a new concept. It was first proposed as an alternative to the B-1 bomber.

http://www.boeing-747.com/special_boeing_747s/747_cmca_-_cruise_missile_carrier.php

This variant was considered by the U.S. Air Force as a Cruise Missile Carrier Aircraft during the development of the B-1 Lancer strategic bomber. It would have been equipped with 50 to 100 AGM-86 ALCM cruise missiles on rotary launchers. This plan was abandoned in favor of more conventional strategic bombers.

However, you can't just take a civilian 747 airliner and put cruise missiles in it. There is a lot of specialized modification that have to be done to the aircraft to carry and launch cruise missiles from rotary launcher modules.

[fishtank]

So, one does not simply take cruise missiles into a 747 cargo hold?

[Fai Mao]

This is different from that. This is a self deploying “pallet” of cruise missiles dropped out the back cargo door of a cargo version 747. There is no modification to the plane needed.

https://afresearchlab.com/technology/rapid-dragon