Boeing 737 MMA to be a bomber?

[Henry J. Cobb]

http://www.king5.com/business/stories/NW_021704BUBboeingmmaJK.1323164.html
The MMA is a new version of the Renton, Wash. built 737. If the Navy
approves, this new 737 would be able to drop bombs, torpedoes, and
missiles.

The bombs will be carried on wing hardpoints rather than in a bomb
bay?

If the tanker deal falls through will they turn all of those 767's
into cruise missile carriers?

-HJC

[Thomas Schoene]

Henry J. Cobb wrote:
> http://www.king5.com/business/stories/NW_021704BUBboeingmmaJK.1323164.html
> The MMA is a new version of the Renton, Wash. built 737. If the Navy
> approves, this new 737 would be able to drop bombs, torpedoes, and
> missiles.
>
> The bombs will be carried on wing hardpoints rather than in a bomb
> bay?

Like the current P-3, the 737 MMA would have an internal weapon bay in the
fuselage (aft of the wing carry-through in this case), as well as wing
hardpoints for Harpoons or other large weapons (SLAM-ER, JSOW, etc.).

> If the tanker deal falls through will they turn all of those 767's
> into cruise missile carriers?

Huh? If the tanker deal falls through, there are no 767s to convert to
anything. They are new builds.

Besides, it's pretty obvious that there is no demand for a new ALCM carrier,
since the B-52s are handling the job just fine and ALCM stocks are not
terribly large.

--
Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"If brave men and women never died, there would be nothing
special about bravery." -- Andy Rooney (attributed)