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Arnold Defence’s LWL12-A Lightweight Launcher Grabs Attention

: Apr 16, 2018 - : 9:41 pm

Arnold Defence is witnessing growing interest for its LWL12-A lightweight launcher which allows light and heavy armed helicopters the option to increase their weapon throw-weight or enhance time on target. Company officials also tell Daily News, that the delivery of M260 rocket launchers ordered by the RMAF was completed in September 2017.

The RMAF has ordered six MD Helicopters MD 530G armed scout helicopters and an estimated 10 M260 launchers have been delivered directly to MD Helicopters by Arnold Defence. The M260 is a 7-round 2.75-inch (70mm) lightweight rocket launcher that has an empty weight of 15.9 kg. Each 70 mm rocket weighs 16kg.

Arnold Defence is now receiving strong interest for its LWL-12-A lightweight launcher, which was developed by the company to meet the specific requirements from U.S Special Forces (SF) operators. The requirement arose from the need to develop a smaller and lighter rocket launcher compared to the M261 19-round 2.75-inch (70 mm) rocket launcher which weighs 39.5kg. The LWL-12-A has the same height as the M260 launcher but carries 40 per cent more rockets. This enables more rockets to be carried per mission, especially for lighter helicopter models.

The LWL-12-A weighs only 28.6 pounds and is now being used on larger attack helicopters for missions where the helicopter required greater endurance. This is especially the case for armed utility helicopters such as the Bell 412 and Sikorsky Black Hawk.

The capability of a light helicopter can also be greatly enhanced by using BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guidance kits that transform an unguided 2.75-inch (70 mm) rocket into a precision-guided rocket. The guidance kits add 3kg to the weight of each 70mm rocket.

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