Flying Torpedoes (Through the Air, of All Places)

Here’s a topic that I couldn't resist writing a little about. The title evoked images in my mind of a cross between a battle scene from a Transformers movie and an image of some poor daredevil being shot from a cannon. I figure now you have an inkling of what a truly strange place my mind really is. This is what happens when my husband suggests blog topics.

Actually Boeing is beginning to make flying torpedoes able to attack enemy submarines at long ranges from altitudes 30,000 feet. Add on kits with wings, that fall away when the torpedo hits the water, and consequently begins to act like a conventional torpedo, are already being assembled. The torpedoes, Mark 54s, were already able to be launched by air but with the addition of the wings are being turned into glide weapon allowing 7 to 10 minutes before the torpedo hits the water. Less time and fuel will be wasted and time between target acquisition and attack is reduced. There’s a bunch of other technical stuff going on with this project and as with all defense expense it’s well, expensive. But using the kits Boeing is building makes use of the Mark 54 with little or no modification and the existing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, so that seems like a good thing to me but of course as all things defense related these modifications aren't free.

Who comes up with these ideas, I wonder? 

Or not, stranger things are probably out there lurking in many a mind.