Sunday, January 20, 2013

LAU-131 rocked pod with "extended tubes"?

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

At Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Warthog News contributor Ned Harris from the United States had the rare opportunity to take this very interesting close-up shot of A-10C 78-0633 from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (ANG), on January 18, 2013:


Close-up view of A-10C 78-0633. AN/AAQ-28 LITENING AT targeting pod on station 10. But WHAT'S THAT on station 9??? It seems to be a LAU-131 rocket pod, but WHAT ARE THESE "EXTENDED" TUBES??? (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size

Note: Can/will any expert (pilot, crew chief, weapons loader) explain this??? I would be very grateful for any support.

7 comments:

  1. Nothing crazy, just M257 illum rockets. You can look them up in a number of places... http://www.google.com/search?q=m257+illumination+rocket&hl=en&client=ms-android-verizon&tbo=d&source=android-launcher-widget&v=141338691&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=rGD8UKbuNKnmiAKR2ICQAw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=360&bih=563&sei=x2D8UKSdMOWciQLL-IG4Aw#i=168

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  2. they are illumination rockets for night sorties. They shoot out, a parachute opens at a pre-determined distance/altitude, a flare ignites, and presto.... lots of light to see the target. It's very rare to see them loaded on a daytime sortie which is why you haven't seen them before.

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  3. The rockets on station #9 are Infared target designators to mark targets.

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  4. Those are illumination rockets - either M257 or M278 per my A-10 pilot son.

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  5. They're illum rockets (M257 or M278), looks odd because they have that snub nose and are way longer than the 131 and stick out the front.

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  6. Nah, they are extended rifled tubes to improve accuracy of slugs instead of buckshot ;)

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