- Side
- United States and South Vietnam
ATK/FAA history material describes the LUU-2/B visible-light flare as certified for U.S. DoD operational use in 1968 and used extensively in the Vietnam conflict.
Munitions
LUU-2 illuminating flare
Also known as
- LUU-2/B
- LUU-2A/B
- LUU-2B/B
- LUU-2C/B
- LUU-2D/B
- LUU-2 D/B
- Aircraft Parachute Flare LUU-2 D/B
The LUU-2 illuminating flare is a U.S.-origin, air-launched parachute flare family used for visible nighttime illumination from aircraft. Air Force manuals describe LUU-2/B and LUU-2A/B flares as 36-inch, roughly five-minute, 2-million-candlepower stores, U.S. procurement records describe later LUU-2D/B construction, and Magellan Aerospace manufactures LUU-2 flares in Winnipeg for Royal Canadian Air Force search-and-rescue use.
Role in Conflicts
- Side
- Coalition forces
A Desert Storm account of A-7E Corsair II strikes describes eight LUU-2 parachute flares illuminating H-2 airfield in Iraq before attack runs.
Role detailsU.S. Navy metadata from May 2005 shows LUU-2B/B flares prepared for F/A-18C Hornets while USS Carl Vinson was operating in support of multinational forces in Iraq; a DOJ settlement also describes LUU-2 and LUU-19 para-flares as extensively used by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Role detailsProfile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- United States
- Built in
- United StatesCanada
- Type
- air-launched illumination flare
- Service note
- Late 1960s-present
- Unit cost
- $1,472
- Produced
- Late 1960s-present
Specifications
- Length
- 36 in (914 mm)
- Diameter
- 4.875 in (123.8 mm)
- Weight
- Approximately 30 lb (13.6 kg)
- Illumination
- About 2 million candlepower
- Burn time
- Approximately 300 seconds (5 minutes)
- Deployment
- Air-launched parachute flare
Variants
Public records use LUU-2/B, LUU-2A/B, LUU-2B/B, LUU-2C/B, and LUU-2D/B designations for visible-light aircraft parachute flares in the same illumination family; LUU-19 B/B is described by U.S. procurement material as a near-infrared derivative.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| LUU-2/B | Visible-light aircraft parachute flare | The MC-130J manual groups LUU-2/B with LUU-2A/B as a 36-inch air-launched parachute flare rated for roughly five minutes of illumination. Sources: AFMAN 11-2MC-130Jv3 |
| LUU-2A/B | Visible-light aircraft parachute flare | The Air Force manual describes LUU-2A/B together with LUU-2/B for dimensions, burn time, candlepower, and manual launch procedures. Sources: AFMAN 11-2MC-130Jv3 |
| LUU-2B/B | Visible-light aircraft parachute flare | The FY 1998 Air Force procurement program lists the LUU-2 B/B parachute flare as an Air Force munition line item. Sources: Procurement Programs (P-1) |
| LUU-2C/B | ATK-produced visible-light flare variant | A U.S. Department of Justice complaint describes federal contracts for ATK-built LUU-2B/B and LUU-2C/B flares under military flare specifications. |
| LUU-2D/B | Visible-light aircraft parachute flare | The 2008 U.S. market survey describes the LUU-2 D/B as a 36-inch, approximately 29-pound aircraft parachute flare with timer, parachute, igniter, case, and candle assemblies. |
| LUU-19 B/B | Near-infrared derivative | The same U.S. market survey says the LUU-19 B/B is derived from the LUU-2 flare and differs by providing near-infrared illumination for night-vision equipment. |
Carrier Aircraft
Textron Aviation Defense and Air Force manual material document the LUU-2 family on light-attack and special-operations aircraft load paths.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Light attack aircraft | Textron Aviation Defense lists the LUU-2 illumination flare among the AT-6 Wolverine's supported loads. Sources: AT-6 Wolverine and Beechcraft T-6 Texan II | Textron Aviation Defense |
 | Special operations transport aircraft | The MC-130J manual describes LUU-2/B and LUU-2A/B flares and gives ramp or floor-jettison-port launch procedures for MC-130J crews. Sources: AFMAN 11-2MC-130Jv3 |
 | Special mission transport aircraft | DAFMAN 11-2EC-130Jv3 gives EC-130J pyrotechnic procedures for hand-launched parachute flares and identifies LUU-2/B and LUU-2A/B as air-launched parachute flares. Sources: DAFMAN 11-2EC-130Jv3 |
 | Tanker/transport aircraft | The Marine Corps KC-130J training manual includes battlefield-illumination events using LUU-2 and/or LUU-19 series aircraft parachute flares. Sources: NAVMC 3500.53D KC-130J Training and Readiness Manual |
 | Strike fighter | The Marine Corps F/A-18A/C/D training manual tracks battlefield-illumination proficiency by shooting illumination rockets or dropping LUU-2/19 flares. Sources: NAVMC 3500.50B F/A-18 Training and Readiness Manual |
 | Attack aircraft | The AV-8B training manual includes LUU-2/LUU-19 parachute flare employment in night-systems training and lists LUU-2 among AV-8B ordnance planning items. |
Deployment And Illumination
The LUU-2 family is an aircraft parachute flare rather than a guided weapon: sources describe a timed ejection sequence that deploys the parachute and ignites a magnesium-based candle for area illumination.
Visible output
Air Force and Magellan sources place visible-light output in the roughly 1.8-million to 2-million-candlepower class for about five minutes.
Timer and descent
The LUU-2D/B market survey describes a mechanical timer with feet-of-fall settings from 250 to 11,000 feet before parachute deployment and flare function.
Mission context
U.S. and Canadian sources describe nighttime search, rescue, attack, landing, supply-drop, and aircraft-hover illumination uses; conflict rows are limited to cases where sources directly identify LUU-2-family flare employment.
Timeline
LUU-2 illuminating flare Key Events
Air Force procurement line lists unit cost
The FY 1998/1999 Air Force procurement program lists the LUU-2 B/B parachute flare at a unit cost of $1,472.
Sources: Procurement Programs (P-1)
Magellan announces RCAF contracts
Magellan announced contracts to manufacture and deliver LUU-2 illumination flares for the Royal Canadian Air Force from Winnipeg.
Sources: Magellan Aerospace Announces Contracts to Produce Aircraft Illumination Flares
Magellan signs a new Canadian contract
Magellan announced a four-year Canadian-government contract beginning in 2024 for LUU-2 illumination flares for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Sources: LUU-2 Flares for CAF - Magellan Aerospace
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Magellan Aerospace Announces Contracts to Produce Aircraft Illumination FlaresPublisher: Magellan Aerospace | Note: Supports the 2019 licensed-manufacture contract, Royal Canadian Air Force use, Winnipeg production, and the LUU-2 flare's 1.8 million candlepower output for five minutes. | Accessed: 2026-06-27LUU-2 Flares for CAF - Magellan AerospacePublisher: Magellan Aerospace | Note: Supports the 2023 Canadian-government contract, Royal Canadian Air Force use, Winnipeg manufacture, and the LUU-2 flare's 1.8 million candlepower output for five minutes. | Accessed: 2026-06-27History of LUU Flares - Regulations.govPublisher: Regulations.gov | Note: Supports the LUU-2/B flare's late-1960s U.S. DoD certification, use by U.S. forces in the 1955 Vietnam War, and ATK Launch Systems Inc. prime-contractor background. | Accessed: 2026-07-02AFMAN 11-2MC-130Jv3Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the LUU-2/B and LUU-2A/B description as air-launched parachute flares, including dimensions, candlepower, burn time, MC-130J launch procedures, and documented illumination uses. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Procurement Programs (P-1)Publisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports the FY 1998 unit cost line for the LUU-2 B/B parachute flare in the Air Force procurement program. | Accessed: 2026-06-27LUU-2 Flare - Dumb Bombs - GlobalSecurity.orgPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Image provenance for the LUU-2/B flare cutaway image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27204th Airlift Squadron LUU-2 flare deploymentPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Public-domain image provenance for a Hawaii Air National Guard loadmaster preparing to deploy a LUU-2 flare from a C-17 during flare deployment training. | Accessed: 2026-07-02204th Airlift Squadron LUU-2 flare inspectionPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Public-domain image provenance for loadmasters inspecting a LUU-2 flare during Hawaii Air National Guard flare deployment training. | Accessed: 2026-07-02VMM-164 LUU-2 flare before launch in SomaliaPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Public-domain image provenance for a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 crew chief preparing a LUU-2 flare before launch during Operation Octave Quartz in Somalia. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Canada to obtain 10,000 units of the illumination flares for search and rescue - VanguardPublisher: Vanguard | Note: Supports Royal Canadian Air Force search-and-rescue context for LUU-2 illumination flares. | Accessed: 2026-06-27AT-6 Wolverine and Beechcraft T-6 Texan II | Textron Aviation DefensePublisher: Textron Aviation Defense | Note: Supports the AT-6 Wolverine supported-load list that includes the LUU-2 illumination flare. | Accessed: 2026-06-27DAFMAN 11-2EC-130Jv3Publisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports EC-130J parachute-flare procedures and LUU-2/B and LUU-2A/B identification as air-launched parachute flares. | Accessed: 2026-07-02NAVMC 3500.53D KC-130J Training and Readiness ManualPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps | Note: Supports KC-130J battlefield-illumination training events using LUU-2 and/or LUU-19 series aircraft parachute flares. | Accessed: 2026-07-02NAVMC 3500.50B F/A-18 Training and Readiness ManualPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps | Note: Supports F/A-18A/C/D battlefield-illumination training with illumination rockets or LUU-2/19 flares. | Accessed: 2026-07-02NAVMC 3500.51D AV-8B Training and Readiness ManualPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps | Note: Supports AV-8B LUU-2/LUU-19 parachute flare employment in night-systems training and LUU-2 ordnance planning context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Aircraft Parachute Flare LUU-2 D/B Market SurveyPublisher: GovTribe / SAM.gov | Note: Supports the LUU-2D/B aircraft parachute flare description, Air Force and Navy use for nighttime search and attack illumination, major assemblies, timer setting range, candle composition summary, and LUU-19 B/B derivative context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02United States v. Alliant Techsystems ComplaintPublisher: U.S. Department of Justice | Note: Supports ATK contract and manufacturing context for LUU-2B/B and LUU-2C/B flares. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Gulf War: Desert Storm Was an Heroic Moment for A-7E Corsair IIPublisher: Defense Media Network | Note: Directly supports 1990 Gulf War LUU-2 parachute flare use during an A-7E Corsair II strike against H-2 airfield in Iraq. | Accessed: 2026-07-02US Navy LUU-2B/B flares for F/A-18C HornetsPublisher: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons | Note: Directly supports 2003 Iraq War context by identifying LUU-2B/B flares prepared for F/A-18C Hornets while USS Carl Vinson was conducting operations in support of multinational forces in Iraq; also supports public-domain image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-02ATK Launch Systems SettlementPublisher: U.S. Department of Justice | Note: Supports Iraq and Afghanistan operational context for LUU-2 and LUU-19 illuminating para-flares delivered to the Defense Department from 2000 to 2006. | Accessed: 2026-07-02