New, ultra-light LWL-12 & 19-round M261 showcased

Arnold Defense, a St Louis, USA-based international manufacturer and supplier of 2.75in rocket launchers, is displaying its new, ultra-light LWL-12 2.75in /70mm weapon systems for the first time at the Singapore Airshow.

Arnold Defense is one of the world’s largest supplier of rocket launchers and the company has manufactured more than 1.1 million 2.75in rocket launchers since 1961 for the US Army, Navy, Air Force and many NATO customers and allies.

The company’s products include the new, ultra-light LWL-12 (on display on Dillon Aero stand #S71) that weighs just over 60lbs (27kg) empty. Other core products include the 19-round M261 (on display on the flight line on a Singapore Air Force APACHE helicopter), which is commonly used by helicopters; the thermal coated 7-round LAU-68 variants and LAU-61 Digital Rocket Launcher are used by the US Navy and Marines; and the 7-round LAU-131 and SUU-25 flare dispenser are used by the US Air Force and worldwide.

Traditionally, 2.75in rocket systems have been used as an area suppression weapon, ordinarily deployed by aviation assets. The Arnold Defense team is currently developing the FLETCHER smart, laser-guided launcher system, which will be available during 2018. A Special Forces vehicle mounted FLETCHER prototype, unveiled at DSEI and AUSA in 2017, utilises the advancement of laser guided rocket technology to meet the modern demands of air, land and marine-based, mounted and dismounted asymmetric warfare, for special and conventional forces.

“Arnold Defense is exceedingly well established in the air environment with our rocket systems being used on air platforms globally, so we are very excited to have our combat-proven technology on display at the Singapore Air Show,” Jim Hager, President and CEO of Arnold Defense, said. “We are inherently committed to manufacturing the world’s most reliable and affordable rocket launchers. Through our innovation, integrity, dedication, technical expertise and warfighter-first focus, we continue to produce the very best rocket launchers in the world.

Working together, we protect today’s warfighters, just as we have for the last half-century.”

DPM