Zuni (rocket)
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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.
Various configurations of Zuni rockets have been developed. On 1 May 1967 during a sortie against North Vietnam’s MiG airfield at Kep, Lieutenant Commander Theodore R. Swartz shot down a Soviet-built MiG-17 with air-to-ground Zuni rockets. This was the only MiG aircraft to be downed by an Douglas A-4 Skyhawk during the Vietnam War.[2] Lieutenant Commander Swartz received the Silver Star for his action.
In 1967 a Mk32 Zuni rocket was responsible for a serious fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CV-59), which led to the loss of 134 lives. A Mk32 was also responsible for a 1969 fire on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65), leading to the loss of 27 lives and saw 314 more injured. Fifteen aircraft were destroyed.
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. A U.S. Defense Company, MBDA Incorporated is the only manufacturer of the Laser Guided Zuni Rocket [3] similar to the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System upgrade to the Hydra 70 system.[4]. 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 [5]. The Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is on the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Weapons Roadmap and Plan[6] 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[7]. 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)[8].
In 2009, the Laser Guided Zuni Rocket was successfully tested against both a stationary and moving targets[9]. The weapon successfully underwent a live fire warhead test flight in September, 2010[10].
References
- Notes
- ^ Federation of American Scientists - Zuni rocket
- ^ Grossnick and Armstrong 1997
- ^ WGU-58/B Laser Guided Zuni Rocket Data Sheet
- ^ "2007 Marine Aviation Plan2007 Marine Aviation Plan" (PDF).
- ^ Video of Laser Guided Zuni Rocket hitting a stationary target
- ^ "2007 Marine Aviation Plan2007 Marine Aviation Plan" (PDF).
- ^ WGU-58/B Laser Guided Zuni Rocket Data Sheet
- ^ Video of WGu-58/B equipped Zuni target striking a moving target in August, 2009
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- Bibliography
- Grossnick, R. and Armstrong W.J. (1997). United States Naval Aviation, 1910-1995. Naval Historical Center. ISBN 0-16049-124-X.
External links
Media related to Zuni rocket at Wikimedia Commons
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