The Fast Dragon program, now referred to as Dragon Cart, transitioned to a Program of File and can see cargo plane in a position to deploy palletized cruise missiles by 2027.
The U.S. Air Power’s Fast Dragon program is now an official Program of File (PoR), the Air Power Life Cycle Administration Heart (AFLCMC) introduced on Apr. 30, 2026. A PoR standing means the system has been formally permitted by the federal government and ensures Congressional funding allocation in future budgets.
Fast Dragon noticed the Air Power utilizing cargo plane such because the C-130J Hercules and its derivatives, and the C-17 Globemaster III to conduct ‘palletized launches’ of plenty of standoff floor strike missiles. The undertaking has now been designated as Dragon Cart after transferring oversight from the Air Power Analysis Laboratory (AFRL) to the AFLCMC.
The system is predicted to be fielded by 2027, utilizing the Center Tier Acquisition (MTA) – Fast Fielding route. The AFLCMC additionally named the Household of Reasonably priced Mass Munitions (FAMM)-series of missiles, developed underneath the Prolonged Vary Assault Munition Initiative (ERAM), because the weapons of alternative for Dragon Cart.
The Zone 5 Applied sciences Rusty Dagger and Co-Aspire’s Quickly Adaptable Reasonably priced Cruise Missile (RAACM) have been birthed underneath the FAMM/ERAM program. The previous was put by way of a sequence of live-warhead and integration trials with an F-16 in January and March 2026, respectively.
As of Might 2026, the Fast Dragon palletized munition system is present process a transition from growth to a proper program of report named Dragon Cart, with anticipated operational fielding in 2027.
It’ll revolutionize the best way the USAF approaches precision concentrating on from day 1 pic.twitter.com/sI0TY3RSsH
— Sean Knaub (@SKnaub77323) Might 8, 2026
The FAMM program additionally has now itself developed to the FAMM-Past Adversary Attain (BAR) procurement. An Apr. 20, 2026, AFLCMC Request for Data seeks corporations that may design and manufacture FAMM weapons to be launched each lugged and palletized and meet manufacturing orders of 1,000-2,000 missiles a yr for the U.S. authorities and overseas patrons.
Dragon Cart is now a PoR
The unique Fast Dragon palletized munitions program has been examined a number of occasions utilizing surrogate missiles and dwell models of the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missile-Prolonged Vary (JASSM-ER). The service stated that Dragon Cart “builds on classes realized from the experimental marketing campaign.”
Members of Polish Air Power, US Air Forces in Europe-Air Power Africa, and US Particular Operations Command Europe conduct palletized precision results cargo coaching onto a Polish C-130 Hercules on Nov. 8 in Powidz, Poland. Are these Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missiles? pic.twitter.com/OKH8MdQg0b
— Ryan Chan 陳家翹 (@ryankakiuchan) November 9, 2022
The AFLCMC stated the Dragon Cart’s energy lies in with the ability to leverage present “normal airlift stock and airdrop gear” and a U.S. government-owned Battle Administration System. This enables the kinetic methods just like the FAMM and the JASSM within the palletized configurations “to be rolled onto an airlift plane, dropped out the again, and allotted in mid-air across the globe.”
Dragon Cart’s program supervisor JiaJia Lee stated the idea gives “operational ambiguity, adversary deterrence and extra command choices to maximise operational results.” Lee additional stated that this “provides us the choice to rework mobility plane into highly effective strike platforms, unlocking capabilities we wouldn’t usually have in how we make use of our airlift fleet.”
Dragon Cart additionally quickly transitioned to a Program of File due to the emphasis of presidency management over the weapons information and expertise, in contrast to different legacy protection procurement applications. System engineering program supervisor Kent Mueller careworn upon the Mannequin-Primarily based Techniques Engineering (MBSE) method that aids fast modifications to the FAMM’s design to accommodate new payloads.
“As a result of we personal the engineering, if a brand new payload wants a launch module that’s barely longer, we simply mannequin it, do the load path evaluation, and ship that mannequin to our manufacturing distributors,” stated Mueller.
#BREAKING video from 352nd Particular Operations Wing profitable check fireplace of a palletized Joint Air to Floor Standoff Missile (JASSM). Profitable extraction of deployment field, launch of JASSM with wing extension, and motor engagement throughout train #ATREUS22 #SOFinEurope pic.twitter.com/3hLcXDJ3bl
— US Spec Ops Europe (@US_SOCEUR) November 9, 2022
The service additionally defined that, “by assembling confirmed, present applied sciences in novel methods and sustaining strict management over the digital structure, this system workplace has eradicated conventional roadblocks, aiding fast scaling and future upgrades.”
Apparently, Air Power had beforehand stated that this system’s identify is derived from “a 1,000-year-old Chinese language navy designed crossbow catapult that launched a number of crossbow bolts with the pull of a single set off, raining destruction down from large ranges.” These weapons have been referred to as Ji Lengthy Che – Fast Dragon Carts.
Fast Dragon and palletized launches
One trial over the White Sands Missile Vary, New Mexico, in August 2021 noticed the consultant missile being launched from the cargo maintain of a C-17A Globemaster III and an EC-130SJ. One other check in December 2021 at Eglin AFB, Florida, noticed an MC-130J Commando II airdropping a four-cell Fast Dragon deployment system containing the Flight Take a look at Automobiles (FTVs) and three mass simulants, upon receiving concentrating on information and importing that into the FTV.
A 3rd check in November 2022 noticed an MC-130J Commando II from the 352nd Particular Operations Wing (352nd SOW) deploying one such pallet over the Norwegian Sea. A JASSM-ER efficiently exited the pallet and commenced its powered flight.
Relating to this system’s future, the Apr. 20 AFLCMC RFI stated: “This system workplace seeks to streamline the battlespace by creating a single, widespread, air-to-surface munition that’s reasonably priced, adaptable, and possesses important standoff vary. The core idea is a singular design that permits for the first deployment technique by way of Palletized: For long-range strike from cargo plane. The Authorities can be presenting commerce area for a secondary deployment technique from the identical singular design by way of Lugged: For long-range employment on fighter and extra plane.”
Different business leaders have additionally developed their very own cost-effective, scalable palletized-launch air-to-ground missiles. These embody Leidos’ Black Arrow, which the Air Power designated because the AGM-190A in February, and Lockheed Martin’s Widespread Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT). The CMMT has an unpowered glide-vehicle referred to as CMMT-D and a smaller powered variant referred to as CMMT-X.
