Vehicle mounted Laser Guided 2.75in Rocket Launcher
Arnold Defense, a St Louis based international manufacturer and supplier of 2.75in rocket launchers, is unveiling a concept named FLETCHER 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at AUSA. FLETCHER can be mounted on land-based military vehicles as well as, potentially, marine and littoral platforms. First unveiled at DSEi this September, the US launch of the FLETCHER concept is at AUSA. Traditionally, 2.75in rocket systems have been used as an area suppression weapon, ordinarily deployed by aviation assets. The FLETCHER team, lead by Arnold Defense, has turned this concept on its head with the advancement of laser guided rocket technology to meet the modern demands of land-based, vehicle mounted and dismounted asymmetric warfare, for special and conventional forces.
FLETCHER is a design that allows for ease of operation, maintenance and sustainment in support of combat operations. It employs an existing suite of guidance modules, rockets and warheads which are already used in well-known programmes and are readily available to global forces. Working in-concert with world-class designation equipment, FLETCHER is a fully integrated weapon system that can engage targets at ranges up to 3.1mi, giving land forces capability that previously required the deployment of air assets.
“FLETCHER is an exciting new development for Arnold Defense and our team partners,” Jim Hager, President and CEO of Arnold Defense said said. “We’re already exceedingly well established in the air environment with our rocket systems being used on air platforms globally. Moving that success into the land environment with our 2.75in rocket systems fitted to wheeled and tracked vehicles, as well as in a dismounted role, will provide ground forces with an entirely new capability. Following the huge amount of interest we received when we launched FLETCHER in London last month, there is now further development work required. But, if all goes well, we’re expecting to have the system ready for sale towards the end of 2018.”
DPM
