Hardpoint
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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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.
