US Air Force discovers how to convert its 522 cargo planes into bombers by deploying cruise missiles attached to parachutes, rapidly increasing strike power should war break out with China The Air Force has developed a system to fire cruise missiles from its large fleet of transport planes The method involves loading the C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemasters with long-range cruise missiles bundled onto pallets The pallets release attached to high-altitude parachutes, and once at a safe distance the cruise missiles activate and launch at pre-planned targets Extra long-range missiles can travel as much as 1100 nautical miles The concept would dramatically boost the amount of strike power the Air Force should conflict break out with a hi-tech power such as China