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.