Larry J said:

>Perhaps some form of structural reinforcement? Just guessing. That warhead
>weighed over 8,000 pounds, so having an adapter buckle would definitely be
>bad news.

That was also my first guess but it doesn't make any sense. The launch load would be axisymmetric. Radial webs like the spokes of a bicycle would make more sense if it was purely structural. Supposably the Mk.6 has "penetration aids". My second guess was that the tubes might be mortars with the adapter's side panels setup to be blown out. The mortars might blow out chaff or radar reflective balloons from the sides of the adapter for spoofing an ABM. However the problem with that idea is I don't see any wiring or plumbing on the sides of the tubes. There should be some sort of pyrotechnic devices visible if they were mortars. It's a mystery....

Gary