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241:, which has decreased very substantially since attention was paid to this feature. Large racks of missiles and bombs hanging below the wings return very distinct radar signatures which can be eliminated by bringing the weapons inside the fuselage. This also improves aerodynamic performance and increases the payload which can be carried and the range of the aircraft. Examples of modern U.S. fighters with weapons bays are the
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applies to the single- or ripple and single- continuous release mode from one or from mirror stations. Salvo release mode applies to a combination of several stations together e.g. adjacent stations. For multiple store release an interval timer can be set to release stores in fixed time steps. For
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World War II saw the use of semi-recessed bomb bays which, being an uncommon variation of the fully recessed bomb bay, was a design compromise for aircraft that were intended to carry bombs but did not have sufficient fuselage space for a fully recessed bomb bay; such a design did not allow for the
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A rotary launcher is a rotating suspension equipment mounted inside the bomb bay. Rotary launchers have stations of their own and offer the ability to select certain stores within the bomb bay for release. Advantages include the selection ability for different weapons and easier loading for the
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These bomb racks may have special store release control mechanisms. Aside from the release options of a rack a pilot can select release mode for releasing one or multiple stores. Stores can be jettisoned selectively in single mode or ripple mode or salvo mode. The term
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would have mounted stores in vertical columns making individual store selection and release impossible without releasing all stores ahead in the column line. The advantage of a conventional bomb rack is a prompt release of all stores in short order. Bombers like the
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195:(which would further slow down the already lumbering bomb-laden aircraft) with bombs hanging from the wings or below the fuselage, so military aviation designers moved the bombs inside the aircraft.
221:, all of which had bays used to store missiles, or other weapons stores. Today many designers have moved previously "external" stores into internal multifunction "weapons bays" capable of carrying
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use custom designed bomb rack support structures with their own designation e.g. Common Bomb Rack (CBR), Common Bomb Module (CBM), or Smart Bomb Rack
Assembly (SBRA).
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Before the introduction of stealth technology bomb bays were mostly used by dedicated bomber aircraft; in fighters and attack airplanes bombs and
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An example of the concept is the Common
Strategic Rotary Launcher, which was introduced in the 1980s on the B-52 and B-1B to carry the
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to make aircraft more difficult to detect on radar. Military fighters are now designed to have the smallest possible
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Costs and
Benefits of a Common Strategic Rotary Launcher Should Be Reassessed Before Further Funds Are Obligated
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which move out on rails allowing the weapons bay to be closed while the missiles still hang outside.
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The disadvantage of a rotary launcher is a slow release of stores. The rotary launcher of the
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for example requires seven seconds until the next store is rotated into release position.
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Bomb bays were born of necessity. Early military aircraft suffered severe
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There are multiple different bomb bay configurations, which can include:
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were among the few notable aircraft to use semi-recessed bomb bays.
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Mark 82 500lb bombs in a B-52G's conventional bomb bay.
440:(Report). Congressional Budget Office. Archived from
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B-1B forward bomb bay fitted with a rotary launcher
365:an external store emergency release there may be a
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16:Compartment to carry bombs on a military aircraft
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435:The B-1B Bomber and Options for Enhancements
339:, a conventional bomb rack like that of the
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116:Learn how and when to remove this message
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253:. These stealth aircraft such as the
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470:(Report). General Accounting Office
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187:History and function
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472:. Retrieved
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367:panic button
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48:Please help
43:verification
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272:Breda Ba.88
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490:Categories
474:18 January
451:18 January
420:References
296:iron bombs
231:drop tanks
76:newspapers
65:"Bomb bay"
414:Hardpoint
337:bomb rack
408:See also
181:fuselage
171:on some
165:bomb bay
106:May 2014
352:or the
292:nuclear
286:Weapons
200:rockets
90:scholar
402:AGM-86
398:AGM-69
362:ripple
348:, the
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445:(PDF)
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300:JDAMs
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476:2021
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400:and
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278:and
214:and
163:The
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391:B-1
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