The FICON project, short for Fighter Conveyor, was an unusual U.S. Air Force initiative from the early Cold War that sought to combine a heavy bomber with a small fighter in a single system. The B‑36 Peacemaker served as the "mothership," carrying an F‑84 Thunderjet beneath its belly. Mid‑flight, the fighter detached to conduct reconnaissance or escort missions before re‑joining the bomber.
The goal was to extend the bomber’s range and survivability against enemy air defenses, especially for deep‑penetration reconnaissance where the B‑36 alone was vulnerable. Although test flights showed promise, the program faced severe challenges: the difficulty of mid‑air reconnection, operational complexity, limited space, and the emergence of alternative technologies such as aerial refueling and long‑range reconnaissance aircraft.
Ultimately FICON was retired in the late 1950s, but it remains recognized as one of the first combined aircraft concepts. The idea has resurfaced today in the form of drone‑towed weapons and reusable launch‑recovery systems.