DAYTON, Ohio — May 12, 2026 : The United States Air Force has formally transitioned its experimental Rapid Dragon palletized munitions initiative into an official Program of Record (PoR) under the new designation “Dragon Cart,” marking a significant step toward operational deployment of cargo aircraft-based long-range strike capabilities.
The transition was announced by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) on April 30, 2026, following the formal transfer of program oversight from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to the AFLCMC Combat Readiness Directorate on April 1. Program of Record status secures future congressional funding and establishes Dragon Cart as an officially fielded Air Force capability.
Dragon Cart is scheduled to enter operational service in 2027 through the Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Fielding pathway. The system allows cargo aircraft, including the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, to deploy palletized standoff missiles using standard airdrop equipment and a government-owned Battle Management System.
Under the concept, missile launch modules are loaded onto pallets inside cargo aircraft and released through the rear cargo ramp during flight. Once deployed, the munitions separate from the pallet system and initiate powered flight toward designated targets. The approach enables conventional mobility aircraft to operate as long-range strike platforms without permanent structural modification.
JiaJia Lee, Dragon Cart program manager, stated that the capability provides “operational ambiguity, adversary deterrence and additional command options to maximize operational effects.” Lee added that the system gives the Air Force the ability “to transform mobility aircraft into powerful strike platforms,” expanding the operational utility of the airlift fleet.
The Dragon Cart designation originates from the ancient Chinese Ji Long Che, a historical military catapult system capable of launching multiple projectiles simultaneously over extended distances.
Family of Affordable Mass Munitions Selected for Dragon Cart
To support large-scale deployment at lower cost, the Air Force has selected the Family of Affordable Mass Munitions (FAMM), developed under the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) initiative, as the primary payload family for Dragon Cart operations.
The program has since evolved into the FAMM-Beyond Adversary Reach (FAMM-BAR) framework. On April 20, 2026, the AFLCMC issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking industry proposals for a common air-to-surface missile capable of both palletized launch from cargo aircraft and conventional lugged carriage on fighters and bombers.
According to the requirement, the Air Force is seeking a munition optimized for engaging slow-moving maritime targets with a minimum range of 1,000 nautical miles and mid-course navigation capability. The service is also targeting production capacity between 1,000 and 2,000 missiles annually over a five-year period for U.S. and allied military customers.
Multiple Defense Firms Developing Compatible Weapons
Several defense companies are currently developing weapons intended for integration with the Dragon Cart framework.
Zone 5 Technologies is advancing the AGM-188A Rusty Dagger, a low-cost cruise missile initially developed under the ERAM initiative for potential Ukrainian requirements. The missile recently completed live-warhead testing, while Team Eglin Test Enterprise finalized F-16 integration and release trials in March 2026.
Leidos received the AGM-190A designation for its Black Arrow small cruise missile in February 2026. Previous testing from a C-130 platform demonstrated a standoff range exceeding 400 nautical miles.
CoAspire is developing the Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile (RAACM) and its extended-range RAACM-ER variant. The company unveiled the extended-range model during the Sea-Air-Space 2026 conference in April. The missile features an additively manufactured fuselage intended for rapid forward production and can be launched from aircraft, submarines, and surface vessels.
Lockheed Martin continues development of its Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT) architecture, including the unpowered CMMT-D glide vehicle and the powered CMMT-X variant.
Digital Engineering Accelerates Development
A major component of Dragon Cart’s rapid transition into a Program of Record has been the Air Force’s use of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) combined with direct government ownership of engineering data and digital architecture.
Kent Mueller, Dragon Cart systems engineering program manager, stated that maintaining control over the engineering framework allows rapid payload integration and modification without lengthy procurement delays. According to Mueller, if a payload requires a different launch configuration, engineers can digitally model the design, conduct load-path analysis, and transfer updated specifications directly to production vendors.
The Air Force has described Dragon Cart as a “born digital” acquisition program that combines existing technologies within a government-controlled engineering structure to accelerate fielding and future upgrades.
Program Builds on Years of Operational Testing
Dragon Cart’s operational development follows multiple successful flight demonstrations conducted since 2021.
In August 2021, the AFRL carried out representative palletized missile drops from a C-17A and EC-130SJ over White Sands Missile Range. In December 2021, an MC-130J Commando II deployed a four-cell Rapid Dragon pallet system over Eglin Air Force Base.
A major milestone was achieved in November 2022 when an MC-130J assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Wing successfully launched a live AGM-158B JASSM-ER over the Norwegian Sea, demonstrating the operational viability of palletized long-range cruise missile deployment.
Prototype contracts linked to the Dragon Cart expansion effort are expected to be awarded in late May 2026 as the Air Force moves toward operational deployment and expanded missile procurement.
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