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==Laser Guided Zuni Rocket==
==Laser Guided Zuni Rocket==
The 5" Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is a precision weapon and an upgrade to the unguided 5" Zuni rocket. The North American division of [[MBDA]] is the only manufacturer of the Laser Guided Zuni Rocket <ref name="mbdainc1">[http://www.mbdainc.com/downloads/zuni-data.pdf WGU-58/B Laser Guided Zuni Rocket Data Sheet]</ref> similar to the [[Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System]] upgrade to the [[Hydra 70]] system.<ref name="autogenerated2007">{{cite web|url=http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/AVN/Documents/Signed%20AvPlan.pdf |title=2007 Marine Aviation Plan2007 Marine Aviation Plan |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20071127050437/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/AVN/Documents/Signed%20AvPlan.pdf |archivedate=November 27, 2007 }}</ref> The Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is composed of the new WGU-58/B Guidance and Control Section that is attached to the front end of an unguided Zuni rocket and warhead. The weapon requires semi-active laser energy to guide to a precise target.<ref name=laser-zuni>{{cite av media|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eznHtJ1E7Ko&playnext=1&list=PL1E5E6460DAEAAB22|title=Laser Guided Zuni (TM) Stationary Target Composite Video Public Release May, 2009|date=January 9, 2010|publisher=|accessdate=December 27, 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref> The Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is on the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Weapons Roadmap and Plan<ref name="autogenerated2007"/> and is compatible with any aircraft that is cleared to carry unguided Zunis in a 4-place LAU-10 Launcher, including AV-8B Harriers, F/A-18 Hornets, AH-1 Cobra Helicopters and P-3 Orion aircraft.<ref name="mbdainc1"/> The precision weapon fits in the same launcher as unguided Zunis and requires only a 28V firing pulse and a semi active laser designator. The weapon was developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Weapons Division of the U.S. Navy's Air Warfare Center in China Lake, California (NAWC WD).<ref name=WGu-zuni>{{cite av media|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kIkJfptmZg&feature=BF&list=PL1E5E6460DAEAAB22&index=4|title=Laser Guided Zuni (TM) Moving Target Shot August, 2009|date=January 9, 2010|publisher=|accessdate=December 27, 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref>
The 5" Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is a precision weapon and an upgrade to the unguided 5" Zuni rocket. The North American division of [[MBDA]] is the only manufacturer of the Laser Guided Zuni Rocket <ref name="mbdainc1">[http://www.mbdainc.com/downloads/zuni-data.pdf WGU-58/B Laser Guided Zuni Rocket Data Sheet] {{wayback|url=http://www.mbdainc.com/downloads/zuni-data.pdf |date=20110408234710 }}</ref> similar to the [[Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System]] upgrade to the [[Hydra 70]] system.<ref name="autogenerated2007">{{cite web|url=http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/AVN/Documents/Signed%20AvPlan.pdf |title=2007 Marine Aviation Plan2007 Marine Aviation Plan |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20071127050437/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/AVN/Documents/Signed%20AvPlan.pdf |archivedate=November 27, 2007 }}</ref> The Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is composed of the new WGU-58/B Guidance and Control Section that is attached to the front end of an unguided Zuni rocket and warhead. The weapon requires semi-active laser energy to guide to a precise target.<ref name=laser-zuni>{{cite av media|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eznHtJ1E7Ko&playnext=1&list=PL1E5E6460DAEAAB22|title=Laser Guided Zuni (TM) Stationary Target Composite Video Public Release May, 2009|date=January 9, 2010|publisher=|accessdate=December 27, 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref> The Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is on the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Weapons Roadmap and Plan<ref name="autogenerated2007"/> and is compatible with any aircraft that is cleared to carry unguided Zunis in a 4-place LAU-10 Launcher, including AV-8B Harriers, F/A-18 Hornets, AH-1 Cobra Helicopters and P-3 Orion aircraft.<ref name="mbdainc1"/> The precision weapon fits in the same launcher as unguided Zunis and requires only a 28V firing pulse and a semi active laser designator. The weapon was developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Weapons Division of the U.S. Navy's Air Warfare Center in China Lake, California (NAWC WD).<ref name=WGu-zuni>{{cite av media|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kIkJfptmZg&feature=BF&list=PL1E5E6460DAEAAB22&index=4|title=Laser Guided Zuni (TM) Moving Target Shot August, 2009|date=January 9, 2010|publisher=|accessdate=December 27, 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref>


In 2009, the Laser Guided Zuni Rocket was successfully tested against both a stationary<ref name=laser-zuni/> and moving targets.<ref name=WGu-zuni/><ref>[http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/ref/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=292] {{wayback|url=http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/ref/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=292 |date=20101017081050 }}</ref> The weapon successfully underwent a live fire warhead test flight in September 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mbdainc.com/|title=MBDA Inc. - MBDA Inc Missile Systems|work=MBDA Inc.|accessdate=December 27, 2015}}</ref>
In 2009, the Laser Guided Zuni Rocket was successfully tested against both a stationary<ref name=laser-zuni/> and moving targets.<ref name=WGu-zuni/><ref>[http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/ref/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=292] {{wayback|url=http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/ref/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=292 |date=20101017081050 }}</ref> The weapon successfully underwent a live fire warhead test flight in September 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mbdainc.com/|title=MBDA Inc. - MBDA Inc Missile Systems|work=MBDA Inc.|accessdate=December 27, 2015}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:41, 21 July 2016

Zuni
TypeAir-to-surface rocket
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byUnited States military
Production history
Produced1957–present
Specifications
Mass79.5 pounds (36.1 kg) (motor only)
Length77 inches (2,000 mm)
Diameter5 inches (130 mm)
Warheadvarious
EngineSolid-fuel rocket
Operational
range
5 miles (8.0 km)
Maximum speed 1,615 miles per hour (2,599 km/h)
Guidance
system
None

The Zuni is a 5.0 in (127.0 mm) unguided rocket deployed by the United States armed forces.[1] The rocket was developed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. It can be used to carry various types of warheads, including chaff for countermeasures. It is usually fired from the LAU-10 rocket pod holding four rockets.

Development

In the early 1950s, U.S. Navy engineers Naval Ordnance Test Station China Lake began to develop a new 12.7 cm unguided rocket to replace the High Velocity Aircraft Rocket.

An VA-113 A-4F launching Zunis during the Battle of Khe Sanh, 1968.

The Zuni 5-inch Folding-Fin Aircraft Rocket (FFAR), was designed as a modular system, to allow the use of different types of warheads and fuzes. One type of warhead was a proximity fuze, as the rocket was originally intended to be used as an air-to-air rocket. The Zuni was approved for production in 1957. A number of different launchers were tested for the Zuni, e.g. single launchers fitted to the AIM-9 Sidewinder launching rails of the Vought F-8 Crusader. However, four-tube LAU-10/A series pods became the most commonly used launcher.[2]

Operational history

Sailors aboard Forrestal battle a massive ordnance fire triggered by a Zuni rocket.

The Zuni was widely used in the ground-attack role during the Vietnam War. However, on 1 May 1967 during a sortie against Kép Air Base, North Vietnam, LCDR Theodore R. Swartz of Squadron VA-76, flying from USS Bon Homme Richard, shot down a MiG-17 with Zuni rockets. This was the only MiG aircraft to be downed by a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk during the Vietnam War.[3] Lieutenant Commander Swartz received the Silver Star for his action.[citation needed]

In 1967, a Mk 32 Zuni rocket was responsible for a serious fire aboard the USS Forrestal aircraft carrier, which led to the loss of 134 lives. A Mk32 was also responsible for a 1969 fire on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, leading to the loss of 27 lives and saw 314 more injured. Fifteen aircraft were destroyed.[citation needed]

Student use

The Australian Government has donated its Zuni rockets to the Australian Space Research Institute (ASRI) and they are used for student experiments which are launched from the Woomera launching range. Every year a few Zunis are launched there.

ASRI has also designed and constructed custom nosecones and payload recovery mechanisms for the Zuni. With a payload of 20 kg, the Zuni has an approximate range of 5.9 km, which it attains in about 40 seconds, experiencing 55 g and 491 m/s (Mach 1.4) during the flight.

Laser Guided Zuni Rocket

The 5" Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is a precision weapon and an upgrade to the unguided 5" Zuni rocket. The North American division of MBDA is the only manufacturer of the Laser Guided Zuni Rocket [4] similar to the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System upgrade to the Hydra 70 system.[5] The Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is composed of the new WGU-58/B Guidance and Control Section that is attached to the front end of an unguided Zuni rocket and warhead. The weapon requires semi-active laser energy to guide to a precise target.[6] The Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is on the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Weapons Roadmap and Plan[5] and is compatible with any aircraft that is cleared to carry unguided Zunis in a 4-place LAU-10 Launcher, including AV-8B Harriers, F/A-18 Hornets, AH-1 Cobra Helicopters and P-3 Orion aircraft.[4] The precision weapon fits in the same launcher as unguided Zunis and requires only a 28V firing pulse and a semi active laser designator. The weapon was developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Weapons Division of the U.S. Navy's Air Warfare Center in China Lake, California (NAWC WD).[7]

In 2009, the Laser Guided Zuni Rocket was successfully tested against both a stationary[6] and moving targets.[7][8] The weapon successfully underwent a live fire warhead test flight in September 2010.[9]

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Zuni 5.0-Inch [130 mm] Rocket". Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  2. ^ "Air-Launched 5-Inch Rockets". Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  3. ^ Grossnick and Armstrong 1997
  4. ^ a b WGU-58/B Laser Guided Zuni Rocket Data Sheet Archived 2011-04-08 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b "2007 Marine Aviation Plan2007 Marine Aviation Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b Laser Guided Zuni (TM) Stationary Target Composite Video Public Release May, 2009. January 9, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2015 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ a b Laser Guided Zuni (TM) Moving Target Shot August, 2009. January 9, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2015 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ [1] Archived 2010-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "MBDA Inc. - MBDA Inc Missile Systems". MBDA Inc. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
Bibliography
  • Grossnick, R. and Armstrong W.J. (1997). United States Naval Aviation, 1910–1995. Naval Historical Center. ISBN 0-16-049124-X.
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