VNFAWING LAU-10 Zuni 5" Rocket Report

The unguided Zuni 5.0-Inch [130 mm] Rocket was originally developed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground applications but is currently used almost exclusively in the later role. The rockets can also be used to illuminate and mark ground targets, and deliver chaff countermeasure systems. The rockets are assembled into complete all-up-rounds to deliver a variety of payloads. The type of fuse and warhead combination is determined by the tactical requirement.

The Zuni unguided rocket uses folding fins for aerodynamic stability. The 26.7 kilogram Mk-16 Mod 3 motor incorporates a double-base solid propellant with a burn time of 1.2 to 1.5 seconds, depending on ambient temperature. The warhead is delivered without the fuse installed. The fuse and warhead combination is determined by mission need. Overall rocket length and weight will vary dependent on fused warhead combination.

The rockets are fired from the all weather LAU-10 launcher, which can be used at speeds up to Mach 1.2. The 5.0-Inch Rocket launchers are a cylindrical construction of four aluminum launch tubes. These launch tubes are held together with metal ribs and are covered by an aluminum skin. Launchers can be fitted with forward and aft frangible fairings depending on overall rocket length and fusing for airborne configuration. The launcher has a frangible nose and tail fairings that disintegrate on firing, and the rockets can be fired singly or in ripple mode. The 5.0 inch Rocket System uses the four round LAU-10C/A (shore-based use only) and LAU-10D/A (shore-based or shipboard use) rocket launchers. The difference between the LAU-10C/A and LAU-10D/A reusable rocket launchers is the external thermal coating on the LAU-10D/A that greatly prolongs cook-off protection time. Full production of these launchers began in September 1973. There have been no recent improvements to the 5.0 inch Rocket.

 





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