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The Zuni is a 5.0 inch (127mm) unguided rocket deployed by the United States armed forces.[1] The rocket was developed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. It can be used to carry various types of warheads, including chaff for countermeasures. It is usually fired from the LAU-10 rocket pod holding four rockets.
Various configurations of Zuni rockets have been developed. On 1 May 1967 during a sortie against North Vietnam’s MiG airfield at Kep, Lieutenant Commander Theodore R. Swartz shot down a Soviet-built MiG-17 with air-to-ground Zuni rockets. This was the only MiG aircraft to be downed by an A-4 Skyhawk during the Vietnam War.[2] Lieutenant Commander Swartz received the Silver Star for his action.
In 1967 a Mk32 Zuni rocket was responsible for a serious fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal, which led to the loss of 134 lives. A Mk32 was also responsible for a 1969 fire on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, leading to the loss of 27 lives and saw 314 more injured. Fifteen aircraft were destroyed.
Student use
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The Australian Government has donated its Zuni rockets to the Australian Space Research Institute (ASRI) and they are used for student experiments which are launched from the Woomera launching range. Every year a few Zunis are launched there.
ASRI has also designed and constructed custom nosecones and payload recovery mechanisms for the Zuni. With a payload of 20 kg, the Zuni has an approximate range of 5.9 km, which it attains in about 40 seconds, experiencing 55 g and 491 m/s (Mach 1.4) during the flight.
Laser-guided Zuni
There is currently (2007) a proposed plan to develop a laser guidance capability for Zuni rockets, similar to the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System upgrade to the Hydra 70 system.[3]
In 2009, the laser guided Zuni was successfully tested *[1]
References
- Grossnick, R. and Armstrong W.J. (1997). United States Naval Aviation, 1910-1995. Naval Historical Center. ISBN 0-16049-124-X.
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