American Dynamics Flight Systems: LH Series Launchers

One of the recent developments in air to ground munitions has been the addition of guidance to the 2.75 inch FFAR (Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket) in the form of the of the laser guided APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) and DAGR (Direct Attack Guided Rocket).

This venerable weapons system, originally developed as an air to air weapon in the 1940s, found its niche as an unguided air to ground weapon, but with the addition of laser guidance, this system has the very real ability to in precision strike roles that do not require the weight, and cost of an existing system.

Theoretically, this could allow for a rocket, now improved to "Hydra 70", to be used in scenarios for which the Hellfire is, pardon the pun, overkill to take out a room, or a guy in a truck.

M260(r) and M261 rocket launchers

The problem is that many of the applications for Hellfire are for smaller UAVs, the launcher for the 2.75" rocket, the M260 and M261 are too heavy and too draggy to be effectively carried.

As is clear from the photo, they have the aerodynamics of a garbage can.

Additionally, they are limited life items, with the aluminum missile tubes having a life of 32 firings.

The folks at ADFS have an improved variant geared toward the guided variant, which, unlike the unguided variant, does not require ripple firing in order to achieve a reasonable chance of hitting the target.

It has two aerodynamic caps on the front and rear of to provide greater streamlining, and there is a single door on both caps to provide for launching.

Both rotate in sync, and the door opens prior to firing, and then shut until the next round is to be fired.

LH Launcher firing sequence

Additionally, the launcher is made from high temperature composites, which allows for an essentially unlimited lifetime, as well as significant weight savings.

Comparison with existing systems

Interfaces between the aircraft and the launcher are supposed to be identical to the M260/M261 launchers.