MILITARY AIRCRAFT
SYSTEMS
Part 5
SYSTEM FEATURES
Military Aircraft Systems
Safety Features
The safety features of air-launched weapons
are designed to protect the aircraft
and ground-crew,
and to ensure that the weapon is armed
and released only when required.
Some safety features
are managed by the ground-crew,
some by the pilot,
and some are internal to the aircraft
or the weapon itself.
Military Aircraft Systems
Safety Features
All new weapons are subject to rigorous testing
prior to being cleared for use on an aircraft.
This ensures that they are
carried and released safely.
Military Aircraft Systems
Key Missile Features
Seeker – Locates target and feeds this information
to the Guidance Unit.
Guidance Unit – Takes the target information from
the Seeker and sends it to the Navigation System.
Navigation System – Takes the target information
from the Guidance Unit and uses it to direct the
weapon to the target.
Actuation System – The Actuation System controls
any moveable fins that steer the weapon.
Military Aircraft Systems
Key Missile Features
Armament Section – Contains the payload, fusing,
safety & arming devices, and the target-detecting
devices.
The payload (warhead) is the explosive content.
The fuse controls when the explosive detonates
and can be either proximity, impact or time-delay.
Propulsion System – The means by which a missile
propels itself.
Usually either a rocket motor or a small jet engine.
And all missiles don’t become fully armed
until the missile has achieved
a pre-determined acceleration
Military Aircraft Systems
Key Missile Features
AIM-132 ASRAAM
Seeker
Guidance Unit
FuseWarhead
Navigation & Actuation
Propulsion
Units
Units
Safety Features
Rail Launchers
Air-to-Air missiles are carried on Rail Launchers
to provide the data and
electrical connections
between the aircraft
and the weapon.
When a missile is fired,
they allow the missile
to leave the aircraft safely
without striking the airframe.
Safety Features
Rail Launchers
There are four rail launchers in use with the RAF:
LAU-7/A and BOL-304
(Tornado GR4)
Integrated Tip Stub Pylon Launcher (ITSPL)
(Typhoon FGR4)
and
Multi-Function Rail Launcher (MFRL)
(Typhoon FGR4)
LAU-7/A
MFRL
ITSPL
BOL-304
Safety Features
Safety and Arming Devices
Missile safety and arming devices
are electromechanical,
explosive control devices
designed to protect the aircraft and ground-crew,
to protect a launch aircraft when it fires a missile,
and to ensure that the weapon
is armed and released
only when required.
Safety Features
Pilot-Controlled Safety Features
The pilot-controlled safety features ensure that
the weapons are armed and released
only when required.
There are three key controls
in a combat aircraft cockpit
to manage weapon safety:
Master Armament Safety Switch
Late-Arm Switch
Emergency Stores Jettison
Safety Features
Pilot-Controlled Safety Features
Master Armament Safety Switch (MASS)
The pilot enables the master armament switch
then selects the weapon
and presses the firing button.
Late-Arm Switch
The Late-Arm Switch needs to be selected
to allow the armed weapons to be released.
Emergency Stores Jettison Switch
The Emergency Stores Jettison Switch
allows the pilot to release all external stores
in the event of an emergency.
Safety Features
Fuse Mechanisms
When a GP Bomb is released from an aircraft,
to ensure the releasing aircraft is not endangered
by the high explosive content,
the fusing mechanism is in a safe state,
until the arming vane at the rear of the tail unit
has made sufficient rotations to ensure
a safe distance from the release aircraft.
Check of Understanding
Which of the following
are standard components of Air-to-Air Missiles?
Guidance, Fuse, Control Surfaces,
Power Supply.
Power Supply, Radome, Fuse,
Warhead.
Seeker, Guidance, Rocket Motor,
Warhead.
Seeker, Fuse, Power Supply,
Tail Unit.
Check of Understanding
What controls the steering
of a missile towards its target?
The launch aircraft pilot
The missile guidance system
The launch aircraft navigator
The missile propulsion system
Check of Understanding
The Armament section of
an air-launched missile contains:
The payload, fusing,
safety and arming devices
The arming and
target-detecting devices
The payload, fusing, safety and arming
devices, and target-detecting devices
The payload and fusing
Check of Understanding
At what point does a launched missile
become fully armed?
Just before it hits the target
When the missile has achieved
a pre-determined acceleration
When the missile has achieved
a pre-determined distance
When the missile has achieved
a pre-determined speed
Check of Understanding
What protects a launch aircraft
when it fires a missile?
The missile safety and arming device
The pilot arms the missile when it is
a safe distance from the aircraft
The missile warhead cannot
detonate until it hits the target
An electromagnetic signal from the launch
aircraft arms the missile when it is a safe
distance from the aircraft
Check of Understanding
When a GP Bomb is released from an aircraft,
what safety feature ensures that the aircraft is not
endangered by the high explosive content?
The fusing mechanism has a built in sensor
and only arms when 200ft from the aircraft.
A GPS timer is enabled at the point of release
to ensure the fusing mechanism is not armed
until 300ft from the aircraft.
A speed sensor activates the fusing mechanism
to provide a safety distance of between
200ft and 300ft from the release aircraft.
The fusing mechanism is safe until
the arming vane makes sufficient rotations
to ensure sufficient safety distance
from the release aircraft.
Check of Understanding
What causes a missile to be launched
from a piloted aircraft?
The pilot by pressing the firing button
The pilot by selecting the weapon
and then pressing the firing button
The pilot enabling
the master armament switch
then selecting the weapon
and pressing the firing button
The aircraft launches missiles automatically
MILITARY AIRCRAFT
SYSTEMS
End of Presentation