Payload bay validation points to development of future combat aircraft

One way to make future combat aircraft more affordable is to provide defence forces with more options, and therefore flexibility, in how they use them.

The payload bay is one way in which this greater flexibility can be achieved, according to Phil Astley-Jones, technical lead on the flexible payload bay project at BAE Systems.

“It provides the ability to simply change the weapons systems they want to carry, or to change the fundamental role they want that aircraft to perform,” said Astley-Jones.

To ensure aircraft are better able to survive combat, they will also need to be capable of carrying weapons internally, rather than as external attachments.

However, releasing a weapon or store from an aircraft bay at high subsonic and supersonic speeds is no easy task. The harsh aero-acoustic noise and vibration within the bay risks damaging either the aircraft or its store, for example, while the need to rapidly open and close the bay doors increases the complexity.