LAU-127
LAU-127 missile launchers mounted on a US Navy F/A-18C Hornet
TypeMissile Rail Launcher
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byUnited States Navy
Kuwait Air Force
Swiss Air Force[1]
Production history
ManufacturerMarvin Engineering Co., Inc
Unit cost$65,000 for LAU-127E/A variant[2]
VariantsLAU-127A/A, LAU-127B/A, LAU-127C/A, LAU-127D/A, LAU-127E/A, and LAU-127F/A
LAU-139
Specifications
Mass87 lb (39 kg) to 95 lb (43 kg)[3]
Length106 in (2.7 m)[3]
Width3.62 in (9.2 cm)[3]
Height6.06 in (15.4 cm)[3]

The LAU-127, LAU-128, LAU-129 and LAU-139 are a part of Missile Rail launcher (MRL) family[4] of aircraft missile launchers manufactured by Marvin Engineering Co., Inc., based in Inglewood, California.[3][5]

The Marvin LAU-127 enables the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet multirole combat aircraft to carry and launch the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, as well as the AIM-9L, M, and X variants of the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. The launcher also provides the mechanical and electrical interface between the missile systems and the F/A-18 aircraft, as well as enabling the two-way data communications between the weapon and the aircraft's cockpit controls and displays.[1]

The LAU-127 fires a missile from weapon stations under the wing of the aircraft, mounted to pylons, or on wingtip hard points.[1] When configured on the wing tips, LAU-127 attaches directly to the aircraft wing, as seen on the empty leftmost wingtip station in the picture of the F/A-18E, to launch a variant of the AIM-9 missile. When configured under the wings to fire the AIM-120, LAU-127 attaches to a Raytheon LAU-115C/A guided missile rail launcher, which in turn is suspended from a Marvin BRU-32 bomb ejection rack that is attached to one of two SUU-79/SUU-80 pylon stations underneath each aircraft wings.[6][7]

The LAU-127 can be integrated with McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B/C/D variants of the Hornet, the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and the Boeing EA-18G Growler. The launcher features a power supply and bottled nitrogen or a self-contained compressor, such as a HiPPAG, for missile seeker cooling. The weights vary slightly among the different variants (LAU-127A/A to LAU-127F/A), and the LAU-127C/A HiPPAG units equipped with Pure Air Generating System (PAGS) are also slightly longer than the versions equipped with nitrogen bottles (LAU-127A/A, B/A, and E/A).[1][5] The units with nitrogen bottles contain a ADU-729/E Nitrogen Receiver Adapter to hold the bottles.[8]

The LAU-128 is a version that is integrated for all models of McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. It requires an ADU-552 (Missile Launcher Adapter) to provide sufficient wing clearance. Variants include the LAU-128A/A, LAU-128B/A, and LAU-128D/A. It is capable of firing similarly-sized non U.S. munitions like Python/Derby and IRIS-T.[9]

The LAU-129 is integrated with General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The U.S. variant is the LAU-129A/A; foreign military sales variants include LAU-129B/A, LAU-129C/A, LAU-129D/A, LAU-129E/A and LAU-129F/A. It is also capable of firing similarly-sized non U.S. munitions. [10]

The LAU-139 for the Saab JAS 39 Gripen is also a variation of the LAU-127 Launcher.[5]

MRL is also used surface-based launchers such as NASAMS-3 common rail for canister launcher and open launcher variants, and the AMRDEC Multi-Mission Launcher.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Marvin to provide 770 sidewinder and AMRAAM air-to-air missile launchers for Navy F/A-18 combat jet". Military&Aerospace Electronics. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Department of Defense Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget Estimates" (PDF). Department of the Navy. February 2020. p. 132. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "LAU-127 MRL" (PDF). Marvin Engineering Co., Inc. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Missile Rail Launcher (LAU-127/128/129) Modernization & Upgrade".
  5. 1 2 3 "LAU-127 For F/A-18A-F Hornet/Super Hornet". Marvin Engineering Co., Inc. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "LAU-115/A and LAU-115A/A Guided Missile Launchers". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Chapter 15 - Aircraft Weapon Systems" (PDF). NRTC. pp. 15–20. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Chapter 9 - Ammunition Handling Equipment" (PDF). NRTC. pp. 9–18. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "LAU-128 Integrated with all models of F-15". Marvin Engineering Co., Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "LAU-128 Integrated F-16". Marvin Engineering Co., Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Surface Launched anti-aircraft missile systems".
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