Josh1971 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Hey all! Can/did the A-10 ever carry the 4-shot rocket pods? jb Quote Link to post Share on other sites
squezzer Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I think there is no technical issue as far as the mounting rings are standard. Is the configuration cleared for the A10, I don't know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Ficner Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Hey all!Can/did the A-10 ever carry the 4-shot rocket pods? jb jb, I assume you mean the LAU-10 pods with 5" Zuni rockets. I could be wrong, but I thought that is a Navy/Marine weapon not used by the USAF. I can't recall seeing a picture of the pod on USAF aircraft. Others with actual experience with the pods will know more. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netz Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 (edited) Yes they are used for the FAC mission. Curt http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...-10-990706a.jpg http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...06f2171a008.jpg http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...a-2013c-443.jpg http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...f-1234b-001.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...t_-_Closeup.jpg Edited December 21, 2008 by Netz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twobobs Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 If things go well, you'll soon see A-10s carry the old Hydra rocket pods with APKWS. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RedHeadKevin Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 That thing is sexy.... So, it's essentially like a small Hellfire? I'm sure that Hydra rockets have a shorter range than a Hellfire, and I know they have a smaller warhead, so would these "LGRs" be shot in salvos, or one-at-a time, like a Hellfire? You could really increase the firepower on a Predator or Reaper with 19-shot pods of these things... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boom175 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Yes they are used for the FAC mission.Curt http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...-10-990706a.jpg http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...06f2171a008.jpg http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...a-2013c-443.jpg http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...f-1234b-001.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...t_-_Closeup.jpg Those are 7 shot LAU-131 rocket pods, not the 4 shot pod the original poster was asking about. I have never seen us carry them but I will check the -1 tommorow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Ficner Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Yes they are used for the FAC mission.Curt Curt, I stand corrected. Thank you for teaching me something new. :lol: Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Ficner Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Those links did not show any 5" Zuni pods. You're still ok ;) Thanks. I knew the first picture showed a 7-shot 2.75" rocket pod, but I couldn't swear to the rest of the pictures. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netz Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Yea that was just a quick search, I think the green A-10 had them on TER's. I just could not find a difinative picture. Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F-16 Weapons Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Although if you wanted to use the 4-shot Zuni style launcher, you could smooth off the front of each rocket and it would represent an older style flare launcher that the A-10 did carry. Same style launcher, just different internals. It could carry 8 large flares that came down on parachutes lighting up the battlefield at night. Pat, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twobobs Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 That thing is sexy.... So, it's essentially like a small Hellfire? I'm sure that Hydra rockets have a shorter range than a Hellfire, and I know they have a smaller warhead, so would these "LGRs" be shot in salvos, or one-at-a time, like a Hellfire? You could really increase the firepower on a Predator or Reaper with 19-shot pods of these things... Either/or man but the smart play would be to launch them one at a time I think. Fire and forget missile with IR sensors on the front fins. Those are the little bumps you see on there. They've been shot from a Whiskey Cobra as well as a Kiowa as of now. This was an Army run program but now the Navy/USMC has taken over it. I know the ANG dudes in AZ have been looking at this but I don't think the AF has officially gotten any traction on this program yet. Pretty cool, very economical weapon that does the trick without a lot of collateral damage. Just the right recipe for the insurgent type targets that are out there today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Ficner Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Those are 7 shot LAU-131 rocket pods, not the 4 shot pod the original poster was asking about.I have never seen us carry them but I will check the -1 tommorow. Were you ever able to confirm the use of the Zunis on A-10s? Thanks, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrvark Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 I think I can explain the confusion about "four-shot" LAU-10s being used on A-10s. Unless something has changed very recently, LAU-10s are not carried by any USAF aircraft. What is carried is the SUU-25 flare dispenser, which is (for modeling purposes) a modified LAU-10. Here's how to tell the difference: The LAU-10, although it can be fitted with fairings almost never is (if it is they are ogive shaped). A dead giveaway is if rockets have been fired out of it, the front half will have nasty exhaust stains. The SUU-25 is always fitted with a nose faring with a (usually black) rounded conical nose cone. It ejects flairs out the back, so will never have exhaust stains on it. They are usually parent-mounted on stations 2/10. HTH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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