Munitions

2.75-inch rocket pod

Also known as
  • 2.75-inch rocket launcher pod
  • 70 mm rocket pod
  • 70 mm rocket launcher
  • 2.75-inch launcher
  • 70 mm aircraft rocket pod
  • LAU-68 F/A
  • LAU-61C/A
  • LAU-61 G/A
  • LAU-32
  • LAU-32/A
  • M260
  • M260 lightweight launcher
  • M261
  • M261 lightweight launcher
  • FZ231 rocket launcher

The 2.75-inch rocket pod is an external aircraft launcher class for 70 mm aerial rockets, spanning fixed-wing and rotary-wing pods such as LAU-32, LAU-61, LAU-68, M260/M261, and FZ231-family launchers. Manufacturer sources document seven-, twelve-, and nineteen-round examples, while General Dynamics describes Hydra-70 rockets as compatible with existing seven- and nineteen-tube launchers on aircraft including Apache, Cobra, and F-16.

2.75-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions
Image source: Seven-tube LAU32-A 2.75-inch FF AR pod adapted to the M-6 system.jpg
Profile / Specs

Specifications

Caliber
2.75 inches (70 mm)
Launcher class
External aircraft rocket launcher pod; reuse and service-life rules vary by model
Typical capacity
7, 12, or 19 rockets depending on launcher model
Seven-round examples
LAU-32, LAU-68 F/A, and M260 family launchers
Twelve-round examples
FZ231 family launchers
Nineteen-round examples
LAU-61 G/A and M261 family launchers
Firing control
Single or ripple fire on documented Thales and Arnold launcher examples; LAU-61 G/A adds digital tube selection; M260/M261 require an onboard firing system
Platform fit
Fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, depending on launcher model
Rocket families
Hydra-70, APKWS-class guided rockets, and FZ 2.75-inch FFAR/WA rocket motors where launcher-specific sources support compatibility
Variants

This page covers the generic 2.75-inch / 70 mm aircraft rocket-pod class. Narrower catalog records and unlinked rows below separate representative launcher designations by tube count, aircraft fit, and manufacturer documentation.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
LAU-32 rocket launcher, 7-tube 70 mm rocket launcher, MunitionsLAU-32Seven-tube fixed-wing 70 mm launcher

Thales Belgium describes LAU32 as a reusable aluminum seven-tube launcher for fixed-wing aircraft, with MOD.4 and MOD.5 forms separated by detent hardware and rocket-motor compatibility.

Sources: LAU32 7-tube metallic rocket launcher

LAU-68 F/ASeven-round extended-length launcher

Arnold Defense lists LAU-68 F/A as a seven-round 2.75-inch / 70 mm launcher with thermal coating, intervalometer firing, and extended length for APKWS II use.

Sources: LAU-68 F/A Extended Length Launcher - Arnold Defense

LAU-61 G/ANineteen-round digital launcher

Arnold Defense describes LAU-61 G/A as a digital 19-round launcher that can select rocket tubes without a sequential intervalometer.

Sources: LAU-61 G/A Digital Rocket Launcher - Arnold Defense

M261 lightweight launcher, 19-round 70 mm rocket launcher, Support EquipmentM261 lightweight launcherNineteen-round rotary-wing launcher

Arnold Defense describes M261 as a 19-shot lightweight launcher for Hydra 70 rockets, predominantly used by the U.S. Army Apache program.

Sources: M261 Lightweight Launcher | Arnold Defense

M260 lightweight launcherSeven-round rotary-wing launcher

Arnold Defense describes M260 as a seven-round lightweight launcher for 2.75-inch / 70 mm rockets and marks it as a rotary-aircraft-only launcher that requires an onboard firing system.

Sources: M260 Lightweight Launcher | Arnold Defense

FZ231 rocket launcher, Composite 70 mm rocket launcher, MunitionsFZ231 rocket launcherTwelve-tube helicopter launcher

Thales Belgium describes FZ231 as a 12-tube lightweight composite launcher for FZ 2.75-inch rockets, with a launcher-interface unit and helicopter integrations such as the A109 LUH family.

Sources: FZ231 official product page

Carrier Aircraft

Representative aircraft links are limited to cataloged platforms whose sources name 2.75-inch or 70 mm rocket launchers directly.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle, Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVsAIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave EagleAdvanced jet trainer / light strike aircraft

TaiwanAirPower lists 2.75-inch rocket pods among the AT-3's external stores, and MilitaryFactory's AT-3 comparison page shows the same aircraft with 2.75-inch rocket pods in its external-store set.

Sources: AIDC AT-3 weapons list | TaiwanAirPower, MilitaryFactory AT-3 external-store comparison

AW-109, Light twin-engine attack and utility helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAW-109Armed helicopter

Leonardo's AW109 TrekkerM brochure lists external 2 x 70 mm rocket launchers with 7 or 12 tubes, showing the launcher mounted on the AW109 family.

Sources: AW109 TrekkerM brochure

AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, Twin-engine attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAH-64 Apache attack helicopterAttack helicopter

General Dynamics lists Apache among aircraft that can mount Hydra-70 rockets from existing seven- and nineteen-tube launchers, and Arnold Defense describes M261 as predominantly used by the U.S. Army Apache program.

Sources: HYDRA-70 Rocket - General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, M261 Lightweight Launcher | Arnold Defense

Rockets Launched

The pod class launches 2.75-inch / 70 mm rocket families rather than serving as a munition itself.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
2.75-inch rockets, Unguided 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family, Munitions2.75-inch rocketsUnguided 70 mm rocket family

General Dynamics describes Hydra-70 as a 2.75-inch / 70 mm rocket family that fires from existing seven- and nineteen-tube launchers.

Sources: HYDRA-70 Rocket - General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems

Hydra-70 rocket system, 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family, MunitionsHydra-70 rocket systemHydra-70 rocket system

General Dynamics says Hydra-70 rockets fire from existing seven- and nineteen-tube launchers mounted on rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.

Sources: HYDRA-70 Rocket - General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems

APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets, Guided rocket munition family, MunitionsAPKWS / WGU-59 guided rocketsGuided 70 mm rocket family

Arnold Defense states that the LAU-68 F/A's extended length supports APKWS II firing while carrying seven 2.75-inch / 70 mm rockets.

Sources: LAU-68 F/A Extended Length Launcher - Arnold Defense

Representative Launcher Families

The 70 mm pod class is defined less by one model name than by tube count, aircraft interface, and rocket compatibility. The examples below are limited to manufacturer-backed launcher descriptions.

LauncherCapacityPlatform noteSource-backed detail
LAU-32 rocket launcher, 7-tube 70 mm rocket launcher, MunitionsLAU-327 tubesFixed-wing aircraftThales describes a reusable aluminum launcher with MOD.4 and MOD.5 forms for FFAR or wrap-around rocket-motor compatibility.
LAU-68 F/A7 rocketsFixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraftArnold Defense lists a thermally coated extended-length launcher intended for APKWS II use.
LAU-61 G/A19 rocketsFixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraftArnold Defense describes a digital launcher that selects rocket tubes without relying on a sequential intervalometer.
M261 lightweight launcher, 19-round 70 mm rocket launcher, Support EquipmentM26119 rocketsRotary-wing aircraftArnold Defense identifies M261 as a Hydra-70 launcher predominantly associated with the U.S. Army Apache program.
FZ231 rocket launcher, Composite 70 mm rocket launcher, MunitionsFZ23112 tubesHelicoptersThales describes a reusable composite launcher with an integrated launcher-interface unit for FZ 2.75-inch rocket motors.

Sources: LAU32 7-tube metallic rocket launcher; LAU-68 F/A Extended Length Launcher - Arnold Defense; LAU-61 G/A Digital Rocket Launcher - Arnold Defense; M261 Lightweight Launcher | Arnold Defense; FZ231 official product page.

Media

2.75-inch rocket pod Videos

2.75-inch rocket pod Images

2.75-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions - view 1
Source: 24th MEU operations aboard USS Iwo Jima 150107-M-WA276-050.jpg
2.75-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions - view 2
Source: US Navy inert 2.75-inch rocket loading aboard Tarawa
Related Weapon Systems
Hydra-70 rocket system, 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family, MunitionsMunitionsHydra-70 rocket system2.75-inch air-launched rocket familyHydra-70 is the U.S. 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family managed by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. Official sources describe it as a lightweight, multi-mission rocket family built around the MK66 motor, mission-specific warheads, and seven- or 19-tube launchers; cataloged conflict evidence includes U.S. transfers to Ukraine, Apache and Marine attack-helicopter use in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve, and Apache employment in the 1990 Gulf War.
2.75-inch rockets, Unguided 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family, MunitionsMunitions2.75-inch rocketsUnguided 2.75-inch air-launched rocket familyThe 2.75-inch rocket family covers the U.S. 70 mm unguided aerial rocket line from early FFAR/Mk 4 and Mk 40 rockets through the modern Hydra-70/Mk 66 system. Army and GD-OTS sources describe a modular air-launched rocket used with multiple warheads from fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, while official U.S. military sources document 2.75-inch rocket use from Vietnam and Desert Storm through Iraq, Afghanistan, Operation Inherent Resolve, and U.S. aid to Ukraine.

Sources

Arnold Defense™Publisher: Arnold Defense | Note: Supports company background and the manufacturer's description of 2.75-inch rocket launcher systems. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AW109 TrekkerM brochurePublisher: Leonardo | Note: Supports the AW109 TrekkerM's external 70 mm rocket launcher fit and the 7- or 12-tube launcher configuration. | Accessed: 2026-07-04LAU-68 F/A Extended Length Launcher - Arnold DefensePublisher: Arnold Defense | Note: Supports the seven-round 2.75-inch / 70 mm launcher configuration, fixed-wing and rotary-platform fit, and representative product imagery. | Accessed: 2026-07-04LAU-61 G/A Digital Rocket Launcher - Arnold DefensePublisher: Arnold Defense | Note: Supports the 19-round 2.75-inch / 70 mm launcher configuration and the digital launcher product line. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HYDRA-70 Rocket - General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical SystemsPublisher: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems | Note: Supports Hydra-70 firing from existing seven- and 19-tube launchers and compatibility with rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft including Apache, Cobra, and F-16. | Accessed: 2026-07-04M261 Lightweight Launcher | Arnold DefensePublisher: Arnold Defense | Note: Supports the M261 19-shot Hydra 70 launcher description, rotary-aircraft use, Apache-program context, and launcher family relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-04M260 Lightweight Launcher | Arnold DefensePublisher: Arnold Defense | Note: Supports the M260 seven-round 2.75-inch / 70 mm lightweight launcher description, rotary-aircraft-only fit, dimensions, and onboard-firing-system requirement. | Accessed: 2026-07-04FZ231 official product pagePublisher: Thales Belgium | Note: Supports the FZ231 12-tube lightweight composite launcher description, launcher-interface unit, compatible FZ 2.75-inch rocket motors, and helicopter-launcher context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04LAU32 7-tube metallic rocket launcherPublisher: Thales Belgium | Note: Supports a seven-tube fixed-wing 70 mm launcher example and the reusable pod-class description. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AIDC AT-3 weapons list | TaiwanAirPowerPublisher: TaiwanAirPower | Note: Supports the AT-3 external-store list that includes 2.75-inch rocket pods and other carried stores. | Accessed: 2026-07-04MilitaryFactory AT-3 external-store comparisonPublisher: MilitaryFactory | Note: Supports the AT-3 comparison page listing 2.75-inch rocket pods among the aircraft's external stores. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Seven-tube LAU32-A 2.75-inch FF AR pod adapted to the M-6 system.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary seven-tube launcher image. | Accessed: 2026-07-0424th MEU operations aboard USS Iwo Jima 150107-M-WA276-050.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for a U.S. Marine Corps photo showing a 2.75-inch rocket being loaded into an LAU-68 pod on an AH-1W Cobra. | Accessed: 2026-07-04US Navy inert 2.75-inch rocket loading aboard TarawaPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for a U.S. Navy photo showing ordnance crew installing an inert WDU-4A/A 2.75-inch rocket into a rocket pod. | Accessed: 2026-07-04