SOURCE: AFI
Boeing’s recent unveiling of the REVOLVER launcher system has sent ripples through the defense world. This innovative system, designed to fit within the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, has the potential to transform this workhorse cargo plane into a formidable hypersonic missile carrier.
The key to REVOLVER’s transformative ability lies in its dual-drum design and electromagnetic catapult mechanism. This allows for the rapid launch of up to 12 Boeing X-51A Waverider hypersonic cruise missiles, each capable of exceeding Mach 5 speeds. This combination of speed and precision significantly enhances the aerial strike capabilities of any nation that possesses it.
India, with its fleet of 11 C-17 Globemaster IIIs, should closely be following this development. since The IAF currently lacks dedicated long-range bombers, a capability China is actively pursuing with its upcoming stealth bomber rollout. The REVOLVER system, if integrated with the C-17s, could offer the IAF a potential solution to counter China’s growing long-range strike capabilities.
While the US is unlikely to provide India with its X-51A missiles, India’s DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organisation) is actively developing its own hypersonic cruise missiles. The C-17s, equipped with the REVOLVER system, could serve as a valuable launch platform for these indigenous missiles.
Boeing’s REVOLVER system presents a potential strategic option for the IAF. Closely monitoring developments and exploring compatibility with indigenous hypersonic programs could position India to address its long-range strike capabilities.