The United States Air Force received its delivery on the Eielson AF base from KIHOMAC, centering on the latest Advanced Travel Pod (ATP), now available to stow internally for F-35A combat jets.
Travel pods are known for having either an external fuel tank or canister, which enables additional storage for baggage on these flights.
With this latest development, the ATP can now be stored internally, moving past the external carriage of these travel pods on the fighter jet.
KIHOMAC's Advanced Travel Pod Now on Eielson Base
(Photo: Eielson Air Force Base via Facebook)
This will replace the legacy models that previously equipped their aircraft with travel pods meant to carry additional cargo, but they will no longer be in the external part of the jet.
This new delivery from KIHOMAC focuses on the KIHOMAC MXU-1072/A ATP, first made available in 2021.
This will ensure a pilot can bring additional cargo through this pod for cross-country (XC) missions and other needs.
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USAF's F-35A Gets the 5th-Gen ATP for Storage
KIHOMAC revealed that its fifth-generation ATP recently received its Airworthiness Certification, making it available for use in the USAF's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) Doctrine.
Now that it is made of carbon fiber, it is also a lighter design, 40 pounds less than the older pods.
(Photo: Eielson Air Force Base via Facebook)
It also offers more cargo space—12 cubic feet, three times more than the old travel pods—with standard NATO lug spacing, removable end caps and quick-release latches, and larger access doors.
US Air Force's Fighter Jet Developments
The US Air Force has made massive developments in its fighter jets and fleet, with the military body previously investing $235 million in a startup to develop a new type of jet.
It focuses on an aircraft with a blended-wing body that would make the jet appear seamless, one that integrates it into the body, offering a new design and look for its machines for defense needs.
Apart from new aircraft, the USAF also looked into the latest technology present in the world, artificial intelligence, which could make the experience autonomous for its pilot.
This new AI-controlled jet was developed earlier, and various tests were made to ensure what it would bring to the military agency, centering on its internal development of the tech.
However, changing the aircraft is a whole other thing than upgrading and accessorizing the existing ones, particularly with more functionalities for a pilot in their missions.
USAF's latest receipt of KIHOMAC's Advanced Travel Pods will help in various applications, particularly for XC missions.
At least one is now available on an F-35A Lightning II at Eielson Base.
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