Support Equipment

BRU-57/A smart multiple carriage rack

Also known as
  • BRU-57/A
  • BRU-57
  • BRU-57/A Smart Bomb Rack
  • BRU-57 multiple weapon rack
  • BRU-57 multiple carriage rack
  • BRU-57 smart bomb rack
  • Bomb Release Unit 57

The BRU-57/A smart multiple carriage rack is a U.S. aircraft carriage and release system from L3Harris that lets an F-16 carry two MIL-STD-1760 smart weapons on a single station. It combines two BRU-46/A pyrotechnic ejector units with smart-rack electronics, was certified on Block 40/42/50/52 F-16 aircraft with WCMD weapons in 2004, and supports JDAM and JSOW carriage. DVIDS imagery documents the rack on a U.S. F-16 at Bagram Air Field during Operation Freedom's Sentinel support in Afghanistan.

BRU-57/A smart multiple carriage rack, Smart multiple carriage rack, Support Equipment
Image source: L3Harris BRU-57 smart multiple carriage rack page

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Smart multiple carriage rack
Service note
2004-present
Designer
EDO Corporation / L3Harris Technologies predecessor lineage
Unit cost
About $185,000 (derived from a $6.3 million contract for 34 BRU-57s)
Developed from
BRU-33/A vertical ejector rack strongback with BRU-46/A ejector units

Specifications

Function
Releases two smart weapons from a single aircraft station
Aircraft compatibility
F-16 Block 40 and later without aircraft modification; L3Harris also describes Korean KF-X/KF-21 use
Store compatibility
500-pound and 1,000-pound JDAM, JSOW, and future UAI Type I weapons as available
Architecture
Two BRU-46/A pyrotechnic racks with smart-rack electronics and a bus buffer system
Dimensions
70 x 29 x 7 in (L x W x H)
Weight
265 lb
Interfaces
MIL-STD-1760 Class II signals and dual-redundant MIL-STD-1553 communications
Power and signals
115 VAC three-phase, 28 VDC 1 with 10 amps per store available, 28 VDC 2, GPS high-bandwidth channels 1 and 3, address lines, connector-mated status, structure ground, and release consent
Mounting
Two mounting lugs with 30-inch spacing
Release equipment
Dual cartridges, store sensing, arming units, automatic and independently latching hooks, and semi-automatic self-preloading sway braces
Carrier Aircraft

The BRU-57/A is documented as the Air Force F-16 smart-rack configuration, and L3Harris also describes use on the Korean KF-X/KF-21 platform.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
F-16 Fighting Falcon, Multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsF-16 Fighting FalconMultirole fighter

Lockheed Martin said the F-16 was the first aircraft to use BRU-57, and L3Harris lists F-16 Block 40 and later compatibility without aircraft modification.

Sources: Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification release, L3Harris BRU-57 smart multiple carriage rack page

KAI KF-21 Boramae, Fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsKAI KF-21 BoramaeFighter aircraft

L3Harris says the BRU-57/A is fielded on the F-16 and will be in use on the Korean KF-X platform, now represented in the catalog as the KAI KF-21 Boramae.

Sources: L3Harris BRU-57 smart multiple carriage rack page

Carried Munitions

Lockheed Martin documented BRU-57 certification with the CBU-103/104/105/107 WCMD family on F-16 Block 40/42/50/52 aircraft, while L3Harris describes current BRU-57/A compatibility with 500- and 1,000-pound JDAM weapons and JSOW.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, MunitionsCBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions DispenserWind-corrected cluster munition

Lockheed Martin said the U.S. Air Force certified the CBU-103/104/105/107 WCMD series for use with BRU-57 on F-16 Block 40/42/50/52 aircraft.

Sources: Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification release

CBU-104 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, MunitionsCBU-104 Wind-Corrected Munitions DispenserWind-corrected mine dispenser

Lockheed Martin included CBU-104 in the WCMD series certified for use with BRU-57 on F-16 Block 40/42/50/52 aircraft.

Sources: Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification release

CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon, Sensor-fuzed cluster munition, MunitionsCBU-105 Sensor Fuzed WeaponSensor-fuzed cluster munition

Lockheed Martin included CBU-105 in the WCMD series certified for use with BRU-57 on F-16 Block 40/42/50/52 aircraft.

Sources: Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification release

GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition, 500-pound GPS/INS-guided bomb, MunitionsGBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition500-pound GPS/INS-guided bomb

L3Harris says the BRU-57/A is compatible with 500-pound JDAM weapons, and the Air Force identifies GBU-38 as the 500-pound JDAM member; a Gifu Air Base image also documents GBU-38/B JDAMs mounted on a BRU-57A rack.

Sources: L3Harris BRU-57 smart multiple carriage rack page, Air Force JDAM Fact Sheet, BRU-57A JDAM rack at Gifu Air Base

GBU-32 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition, 1,000-pound GPS/INS-guided bomb kit, MunitionsGBU-32 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition1,000-pound GPS/INS-guided bomb

L3Harris says the BRU-57/A is compatible with 1,000-pound JDAM weapons, and the Air Force identifies GBU-32 as the JDAM member in that weight class.

Sources: L3Harris BRU-57 smart multiple carriage rack page, Air Force JDAM Fact Sheet

AGM-154 JSOW, Air-launched guided glide bomb, MunitionsAGM-154 JSOWAir-launched guided glide bomb

L3Harris says the BRU-57/A supports JSOW; Lockheed Martin's 2004 release separately noted JSOW certification was expected later that year.

Sources: L3Harris BRU-57 smart multiple carriage rack page, Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification release

Timeline

BRU-57/A smart multiple carriage rack Key Events

  1. Smart Rack specification baseline

    The public Smart Bomb Rack performance specification defined BRU-57/A as the Air Force F-16 configuration of the smart rack family, distinct from the BRU-55/A Navy F/A-18 configuration.

    Sources: BRU-55/A and BRU-57/A system performance specification

  2. F-16 WCMD certification announced

    Lockheed Martin announced U.S. Air Force certification of the CBU-103/104/105/107 WCMD series using BRU-57 on Block 40/42/50/52 F-16 aircraft.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification release

  3. Air National Guard procurement support

    A House Armed Services Committee report noted an Air National Guard requirement to equip F-16 units with BRU-57 racks and recommended a $5.3 million procurement increase.

    Sources: House FY2006 BRU-57 procurement report

  4. Bagram F-16 rack inspection documented

    DVIDS documented a 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member lubricating a BRU-57 on an F-16 at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.

    Sources: DVIDS Bagram BRU-57 F-16 inspection

  5. L3Harris brochure describes fielded configuration

    The L3Harris BRU-57/A brochure described the rack as a combat-proven F-16 system compatible with 500-pound and 1,000-pound JDAMs and JSOW, with future UAI Type I weapons to be included as available.

    Sources: L3Harris BRU-57/A sell sheet

  6. BRU-57B replacement-parts contract corrected

    The Department of Defense corrected the BRU-57B replacement-parts award to L3Harris as contract FA8520-23-D-0001, with expected completion on October 14, 2027.

    Sources: DoD BRU-57B contract correction

Media

BRU-57/A smart multiple carriage rack Images

BRU-57/A smart multiple carriage rack, Smart multiple carriage rack, Support Equipment - view 1
Source: L3Harris BRU-57 brochure cover
BRU-57/A smart multiple carriage rack, Smart multiple carriage rack, Support Equipment - view 2
Source: BRU-57A JDAM rack at Gifu Air Base
BRU-57/A smart multiple carriage rack, Smart multiple carriage rack, Support Equipment - view 3
Source: DVIDS Bagram BRU-57 F-16 inspection
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Sources

L3Harris BRU-57 smart multiple carriage rack pagePublisher: L3Harris Technologies | Note: Supports BRU-57/A specifications, manufacturer background, F-16 and Korean KF-X compatibility, 500- and 1,000-pound JDAM compatibility, JSOW support, and the official product image used on this page. | Accessed: 2026-07-01L3Harris BRU-57/A sell sheetPublisher: L3Harris Technologies | Note: Supports BRU-57/A platform context, U.S. Air Force F-16 load requirement, JDAM/JSOW/UAI compatibility, F-16 Block 40+ compatibility, and detailed system specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification releasePublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports BRU-57 certification with the CBU-103/104/105/107 WCMD family on F-16 Block 40/42/50/52 aircraft, two MIL-STD-1760 stations, JDAM compatibility, JSOW certification caveat, F-16 first-aircraft context, and EDO production background in 2004. | Accessed: 2026-07-01BRU-55/A and BRU-57/A system performance specificationPublisher: Federation of American Scientists | Note: Supports the public 1998 Smart Bomb Rack specification, BRU-57/A as the Air Force F-16 configuration, BRU-33/A and BRU-46/A component basis, MIL-STD-1760 interface requirements, and listed GBU-32, AGM-154, and WCMD mission stores. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Air Force JDAM Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports JDAM designation and weight-class mapping for the GBU-32 1,000-pound JDAM and GBU-38 500-pound JDAM. | Accessed: 2026-07-01DVIDS Bagram BRU-57 F-16 inspectionPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct-use context: a BRU-57 was documented on a U.S. F-16 at Bagram Air Field during Operation Freedom's Sentinel support, and supports public-domain image provenance for the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-01House FY2006 BRU-57 procurement reportPublisher: U.S. House Armed Services Committee | Note: Supports Air National Guard F-16 BRU-57 requirement, four-PGM F-16 carriage context, and the committee's $5.3 million procurement recommendation. | Accessed: 2026-07-01DoD BRU-57B contract correctionPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports corrected award date, contract number FA8520-23-D-0001, and October 14, 2027 expected completion date for the BRU-57B replacement-parts contract. | Accessed: 2026-07-01F-16.net BRU-57 contract reportPublisher: F-16.net | Note: Supports an approximate BRU-57 contract unit price derived from a $6.3 million award for 34 production-phase racks. | Accessed: 2026-07-01L3Harris BRU-57 brochure coverPublisher: L3Harris Technologies | Note: Supports image provenance for the official BRU-57 brochure cover used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-01BRU-57A JDAM rack at Gifu Air BasePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and GBU-38/B JDAM carriage context for the BRU-57A rack photograph used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-01