5-inch rocket pod

Also known as

LAU-10 rocket pod
LAU-10/A rocket pod
LAU-10 series rocket pod
Zuni rocket pod
5-inch Zuni pod

The 5-inch rocket pod is the reusable LAU-10-series aircraft launcher used for Zuni 5-inch FFAR rockets. Designation-Systems says NOTS China Lake began developing the 5-inch rocket in the early 1950s to replace the HVAR, and that after production approval in 1957 the rocket was deployed primarily in four-tube LAU-10/A pods.

5-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions

Image source: Grumman A-6A Intruder weapon load display, 1962 (NNAM.2011.003.240.028).jpg

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Various manufacturers
Type: Aircraft rocket pod
Service note: 1950s-present

air-launched fixed-wing rocket launcher rocket pod reusable

Specifications

Caliber: 5 inches (127 mm)
Launcher class: Reusable external aircraft pod
Typical capacity: 4 rockets
Launcher family: LAU-10/A series
Rocket family: Zuni 5-inch FFAR

Variants

LAU-10/A
LAU-10B/A
LAU-10C/A
LAU-10D/A

Carrier Aircraft

MilitaryFactory and TaiwanAirPower list 5-inch rocket pods among the AIDC AT-3's external stores.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle, Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVs

AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle

Advanced jet trainer / light strike aircraft

MilitaryFactory's AT-3 comparison page and TaiwanAirPower's store list both show 5-inch rocket pods among the aircraft's external stores.

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

Timeline

5-inch rocket pod Key Events

Jan 1, 1950
NOTS China Lake begins the 5-inch rocket program
Designation-Systems says the Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake began developing the Zuni 5-inch FFAR in the early 1950s to replace the HVAR.
Sources: Air-Launched 5-Inch Rockets | Designation-Systems.Net
Jan 1, 1957
LAU-10/A becomes the main launcher family
Designation-Systems says the Zuni was approved for production in 1957 and deployed primarily in four-tube LAU-10/A pods.
Sources: Air-Launched 5-Inch Rockets | Designation-Systems.Net

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Primarily deployed in four-tube LAU-10/A series pods for Zuni 5-inch rockets on fixed-wing aircraft.

Media

5-inch rocket pod Images

5-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions - view 1 — Source: Douglas A-1H Skyraider of VA-25 is armed aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), circa in 1968.jpg

5-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions - view 2 — Source: A-4F VA-113 launching Zuni rockets 1968.jpg

Related Weapon Systems

2.75-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions

Munitions2.75-inch rocket podAircraft rocket podThe 2.75-inch rocket pod is a reusable external launcher class for 70 mm aerial rockets on fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Arnold Defense's LAU-68 F/A and LAU-61 G/A product lines show 7- and 19-round launcher families, while Leonardo's AW109 TrekkerM brochure lists external 2 x 70 mm rocket launchers with 7 or 12 tubes.

LAU-series rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod family, Munitions

MunitionsLAU-series rocket podAircraft rocket pod familyLAU-series rocket pods are reusable external aircraft launcher pods used for 2.75-inch/70 mm and 5-inch/127 mm aerial rockets. The family covers fixed-wing launcher lines such as LAU-32, LAU-68 F/A, LAU-61 G/A, and the LAU-10/A pod family for Zuni rockets, with some 2.75-inch versions also fitted to rotary-wing aircraft.

LAU-32 rocket launcher, 7-tube 70 mm rocket launcher, Munitions

MunitionsLAU-32 rocket launcher7-tube 70 mm rocket launcherThe LAU-32 is a Belgian reusable seven-tube 70 mm launcher for fixed-wing aircraft. Thales Belgium describes it as an aluminum cylindrical pod with a central tube surrounded by six equally spaced tubes, offered in MOD.4 and MOD.5 forms for FFAR and wrap-around rocket use on aircraft such as the A-29 Super Tucano, F-5, and F/A-18.

2.75-inch rockets, Unguided 2.75-inch rocket family, Munitions

Munitions2.75-inch rocketsUnguided 2.75-inch rocket familyThe 2.75-inch rocket family is the U.S. unguided 70 mm air-to-ground rocket line managed in modern form by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. Official product material describes it as a lightweight, multi-mission rocket family, and Navy AV-8B documentation lists 2.75-inch rockets among the Harrier's air-to-ground stores.

5-inch rockets, Unguided 5-inch rocket family, Munitions

Munitions5-inch rocketsUnguided 5-inch rocket familyThe 5-inch rockets family covers U.S. air-to-surface rockets from the World War II HVAR, also called Holy Moses, through the later Zuni 5-inch FFAR. Smithsonian sources describe the HVAR as an effective Navy weapon that remained operational until 1955, while the Zuni entered service around 1958 with folding fins and continued in use into the 1980s. AV-8B inventory documentation still lists 5-inch rockets among the Harrier's air-to-ground stores.

FZ231 rocket launcher, Composite 70 mm rocket launcher, Munitions

MunitionsFZ231 rocket launcherComposite 70 mm rocket launcherThe FZ231 is Thales Belgium's lightweight composite 12-tube 70 mm rocket launcher for helicopters. It uses a Launcher Interface Unit, is reusable, fires FFAR and WA rocket motors, and is shown fitted to A109 LUH aircraft in Thales product pages.

Sources

Air-Launched 5-Inch Rockets | Designation-Systems.NetPublisher: Designation-Systems.Net | Note: Supports the early-1950s NOTS China Lake development of the Zuni 5-inch FFAR, the 1957 production approval, and the four-tube LAU-10/A launcher family. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 MilitaryFactory AT-3 external-store comparisonPublisher: MilitaryFactory | Note: Supports the AT-3 comparison page listing 5-inch rocket pods among the aircraft's external stores. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 AIDC AT-3 weapons list | TaiwanAirPowerPublisher: TaiwanAirPower | Note: Supports the AT-3 store list that includes 5-inch rocket pods among carried weapons. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Grumman A-6A Intruder weapon load display, 1962 (NNAM.2011.003.240.028).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the A-6A weapon-load display showing LAU-10 rocket launchers carrying four 5-inch Zuni rockets each. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Douglas A-1H Skyraider of VA-25 is armed aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), circa in 1968.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the Skyraider store photo showing Zuni rocket launchers carried aboard the aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 A-4F VA-113 launching Zuni rockets 1968.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the A-4F launch photo showing Zuni rockets being fired from aircraft launchers. | Accessed: 2026-06-27