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.
