Hardpoint
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
A hardpoint is a mount where parts (often weapons) are externally mounted to a vehicle. This term is most often used when referring to aircraft. For example, missiles, bombs, electronic countermeasures, gun pods, and drop tanks are mounted to aircraft wings via hardpoints.
The method of release for a bomb stored on a hardpoint involves a shotgun shell inserted in the hardpoint being set off. This provides the necessary push for the bomb to come off the hardpoint cleanly. Whereas most missiles are rail-launched from a hardpoint.
A typical fighter aircraft has a number of hardpoints, including launch racks for missiles, hardpoints carrying bombs, and usually plumbed pylons dedicated for fuel stores.
[edit] Swing-Wing Aircraft
Swing-wing aircraft present a unique challenge, due to the fact that in order to minimize drag and maximize stability the hardpoints must swivel to present the least drag possible such as on the F-111, or the hardpoints must be placed on another part of the aircraft, such as on the F-14. Due to the limited number of hardpoints that could swivel on the F-111, not all hardpoints could be used if the plane was going to travel with fully swept wings.
