The U.S. Air Force has delivered products from KIHOMAC to Eielson Air Force Base, including the latest Advanced Travel Pod (ATP), which can currently be stored inside the F-35A fighter jet.
Travel pods are known for having either an external fuel tank or canister, allowing for additional storage for luggage on these flights.
This latest development allows ATP to pass through the external carriage of a fighter jet's travel pod and be stored inside.
KIHOMAC's advanced travel pod is now deployed at Eielson Base
Eielson Air Force Base announced in a Facebook post that at least one Advanced Travel Pod (ATP) has been delivered for use on the U.S. Air Force's F-35A Lightning II fighter jet.
This replaces previous models that previously equipped aircraft with travel pods intended to carry additional cargo, but they will no longer be mounted on the external part of the jet.
This new delivery from KIHOMAC focuses on the KIHOMAC MXU-1072/A ATP, available for the first time in 2021.
This allows pilots to carry additional cargo through this pod for cross-country (XC) missions or other needs.
Also read: US Air Force completes testing of hypersonic missile AGM-183A
US Air Force F-35A receives 5th generation ATP for storage
KIHOMAC revealed that its 5th generation ATP recently received airworthiness certification, allowing it to be used in the United States Air Force's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) doctrine.
Made from carbon fiber, it has a lightweight design that is 40 pounds lighter than previous pods.
It also offers more cargo space (12 cubic feet, three times the size of the old travel pod) with standard NATO lug spacing, removable end caps and quick-release latches, and a larger access door.
U.S. Air Force fighter development
The U.S. Air Force is undergoing extensive development of its fighter jets and fighter jet fleets, and the military agency previously invested $235 million in a startup developing new jets.
It focuses on aircraft with a blended wing body that makes the jet look seamless, integrating it into the body and providing a new design and appearance of the machine tailored to defense needs.
Apart from the new aircraft, the U.S. Air Force also considered the world's newest technology, artificial intelligence, which enables autonomous experiences for pilots.
This new AI-controlled jet has been previously developed and various tests were carried out, mainly with internal development of the technology, to see what it could bring to military institutions.
However, modifying an aircraft is quite different from upgrading or adding accessories to an existing aircraft, and it is especially difficult to enhance the capabilities pilots can use on their missions.
The USAF recently received KIHOMAC's Advanced Travel Pod, which is useful for a variety of applications, especially XC missions.
At least one F-35A Lightning II is currently available at Eielson Base.
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