![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seawaspWhen a missile or rocket is loaded onto an aircraft, I presume the launch rail/holder must have some kind of coupler to not only hold the weapon, but to activate it (set off the drive and, if it's a smart weapon, tell it "look there" or something to that effect).
When such weapons are loaded onto an aircraft, (A) would the act of connecting it trigger some sequence of recognition by the aircraft ("Hey, I've just got a new missile!")? (B) How long does an aircraft remain loaded? That is, is it standard practice for them to sit around with their missiles onboard, or are those only loaded prior to taking off on a flight where using them is considered normal? (C) Is there an event in which the missiles get "checked" when the aircraft prepares for takeoff (that is, is the missile control "pinged" by the aircraft systems to make sure it's active?)
When such weapons are loaded onto an aircraft, (A) would the act of connecting it trigger some sequence of recognition by the aircraft ("Hey, I've just got a new missile!")? (B) How long does an aircraft remain loaded? That is, is it standard practice for them to sit around with their missiles onboard, or are those only loaded prior to taking off on a flight where using them is considered normal? (C) Is there an event in which the missiles get "checked" when the aircraft prepares for takeoff (that is, is the missile control "pinged" by the aircraft systems to make sure it's active?)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
I'm just guessing...
Date: 2011-05-31 06:57 pm (UTC)I'd guess (with absolutely no personal knowledge) that a) is "sort of, yes", depending on how modern the aircraft is. Older aircraft might not have as much "software knowledge" of weapon loadouts, I'd guess.
b) I don't even have a guess about.
c) would seem like a reasonable checklist precaution - I don't think the pilots want to hop out at 45,000 feet and wiggle the connectors if the connection is bad.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the actual answers turn out to be (if they're not classified).