Chapter 10 Suspension, Arming, and Releasing Equipment

CHAPTER 10 SUSPENSION, ARMING, AND RELEASING EQUIPMENT The Navy uses complex suspension, arming, and releasing devices in combat aircraft and weapons. The high speed and performance of potential targets and our own aircraft require the electronic operation of suspension, arming, and releasing equipment. The equipment covered in this chapter is part of the aircraft search or kill stores systems. Generally, these devices operate electrically and are controlled by aircraft electrical circuits. A circuit-closing device actuates them manually by a hand switch or automatically in the system. BOMB RACKS LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the purpose and use of bomb racks. Recognize the bomb racks used for various configurations, and identify the operation of bomb racks to include electrical and manual release and arming. Aircraft bombs, torpedoes, mines, and other stores are suspended internally or externally from the aircraft by bomb racks. Bomb racks carry, arm, and release stores. Aero 1A Adapter Assembly The Aero 1A adapter assembly (fig. 10-1) lets you load and carry weapons/stores that have suspension lugs spaced 30 inches apart and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. When you install two Aero 1A adapter assemblies on the bomb rack (one on either end), the adapter assemblies let you attach the bomb rack to the aircraft pylon assembly. The Aero 1A adapter linkage attaches to the bomb rack. The movement of the Aero 1A adapter suspension hooks corresponds to the movement of the bomb rack suspension hooks. If you need more information about the Aero 1A adapter assembly, refer to Bomb Rack Adapter Assembly Aero 1A, NAVAIR 11-5E-17. PENGUIN MISSILE LAUNCH ADAPTER The MLA attaches to the left outboard pylon of the SH-60 helicopter and provides mechanical attachment points for the missile launch and release system. The missile launch adapter is equipment with the BRU-14 bomb rack with Aero 1B adapters, which provide the rack with 30-inch suspension. BRU-12/A BOMB RACK The BRU-12/A bomb racks (fig. 10-2) is designed for fixed mounting inn a bomb bay of military aircraft and can be used to carry, arm, and release a weapon/store weighing up to 1450 pounds and has two hooks, spaced 14 inches apart. Two solenoid actuated arming units, at the bottom of the rack, provide mechanical arming for the nose and tail of a weapon/store. These units are electrically actuated to arm a weapons/store as it is dropped. If the arming units are not electrically actuated, the weapon/store will drop unarmed. A Linear Electromechanical Actuator (LEMA) provides electrical release of a weapon/store. No in-flight manual release mechanism is provided. BRU-14/A BOMB RACK The BRU-14/A bomb rack (fig. 10-3) provides suspension and release of conventional and special weapons/stores up to 2,200 pounds with 14-inch suspensions. At times, Aero 1A adapter assemblies are used to increase the bomb rack to 30-inch suspension capacity. You may install it in the bomb bay of the P-3C and S-3 aircraft. Sway braces are bolted to the rack frame. Installation of an IFOBRL allows remote locking and unlocking of the rack when electrical power is applied to the aircraft. The BRU-14/A bomb rack has an auxiliary unlock assembly. It releases the IFOBRL if it fails to function 10-1 Figure 10-1.—Aero 1A bomb rack adapter assembly.