The Raytheon Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded $17,486,136 for modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to procure 72 LAU-115 D/A missile launchers; 16 LAU-116 B/A missile launchers left hand; and 32 LAU-116 B/A missile launchers right hand.

  Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Carmelo Collins, from Brooklyn, performs maintenance on a LAU-115 missile launcher (Picture source: US Navy)

LAU-115/A and LAU-115A/A are rail launchers designed for carriage and launch of AIM-7 missiles from F/A-18 aircraft. The launcher is suspended from the BRU-32 bomb rack on wing stations. The LAU-7 launchers or LAU-127 launchers may be attached to the sides of the LAU-115 for carriage of AIM-9 or AIM-120 missiles. The LAU-115 requires use of a jettison adapter (ECP-422) for safe separation of the LAU-115/LAU-127/AM-RAAM when jettison as a package.

The LAU-116/Aprovides for the carriage and launch of the AIM-7 series SPARROW missile from the F/A-18A aircraft. The LAU-116A/A is also capable of launching the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Two launchers, one left hand and one right hand, are installed in the underside of the aircraft fuselage at stations 4 and 6. The launchers are recessed in cavities within the aircraft fuselage, allowing the missiles to be semi recessed for aerodynamic purposes. Both versions of the LAU-116 are ejection launchers.

Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed in February 2023. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,486,136 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.