He’s time traveler.
So are you saying you want a picture of the adapter?
For the WWP on heavy inboard stations (3, 4, 6, and 7), the ADU-552 is used.
The ADU-552 bolts into the MAU-12 rack just like a bomb would. The LAU-129 then bolts onto the bottom of the ADU.
AIM-120s aren’t carried on the WWPs. They have their own pylons that replace WWP
Primarily because the F-16’s AAM launchers are meant to be universal to fit either the wingtips or under-wing stations.
3 Likes
The correction is they are capable, not typically carried.
So this a matter of obtaining the adapter for the LAU-129. As you see here the AAM rails are mounted to WWP.
Yes, with the Fraser-Nash (Cobham) Common Rail Launcher (CRL) Japan bought from the UK to equip F-2A. A launcher that isn’t used by any F-16 operator and as such isn’t cleared on F-16 -they all use LAU-129.
Gunjob and I are very familiar with CRL since it was the launcher designed by the UK to put AMRAAM on Sea Harrier, and there it likewise required an adapter to mount it on a bomb release rack
CRL on Harrier
https://forum-en-cdn.warthunder.com/original/3X/0/f/0f8b90af2ed4f2505e6993f994baa09063cd9005.jpeg
https://forum-en-cdn.warthunder.com/original/3X/2/b/2b5c7551af322bd78cd1edbdd351249106cede8d.jpeg
An adapter which again, isn’t cleared on F-16.
The version of CRL used by Japan is fitted with bale lugs to interface with a bomb ejector
CRL on F-2A
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/JASDF_F-2A(13-8514)_600gal_drop_tank_at_Gifu_Air_Base_October_30%2C_2016.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/JASDF_F-2A(13-8514)_common_rail_launcher(sta.2)_at_Gifu_Air_Base_October_30%2C_2016.jpg
Which isn’t something LAU-127/128/129 currently do. Although Marvin Engineering, who make the LAU-127/128/129 have proposed similar modifications to make LAU-128SE
https://ndia.dtic.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/future/Tues_EGE_24762_Ross.pdf#page=17
but it’s still just a concept at the moment and isn’t in service anywhere
Other launchers designed to fit on bomb ejectors include the MFRL used by Eurofighter
https://acma.aero/what-we-do/
But again, that’s not used on F-16
1 Like
The ADU-552 Adapter is loaded into the pylon’s MAU-12 ejector rack. The rack acts as it is holding a bomb, but instead, it provides a flat mounting surface.
Bottom Layer, The LAU-129 Rail is bolted to the underside of the ADU-552.
So, going back where do you get its not capable for the WWP or the PIDS+?
ADU-552 is the adapter that fits LAU-128 to the sides of the SUU-59/A pylon on F-15s
Again you need to show it’s cleared for F-16 somewhere
Yes, the ADU-552 Adapter is also compatible with the LAU-129.
Correction, the ADU-552/A for F-16 heavy inboard stations.
So again, you and @Gunjob are the pylon boys from the UK, right? Where is not capable?
Isn’t this an ADU-552? its bolted to the sides of pylons doesn’t look like its been fit to MAU-12 to me?
No MAU-12 ERU to be seen?
You did not read the rest of the post.
it’s a variant.
Can you provide a citation?
Just be clear your claim is F-16’s can carry a LAU-129 rail fit with an ADU-552/A on a TERMA PIDS pylon fit with a MAU-12 ERU?
1 Like
First I want to correct a mistake ADU-552/A looks identical, but it’s the incorrect variant for the WWP MAU-12 & ultimately the PIDS+.
The correct adapter is ADU-706. It features an internal wiring harness that passes high-speed digital data and power from the Lockheed Wing Weapon Pylon directly to the LAU-129
To answer your question.
YES. They pylon is capable of providing EW capability & swapping out munition types.
Air forces don’t want “dedicated” pylons for every station because it limits what the plane can do.
This is critical to Multi-Role Versatility (Swing Role) capability.
It’s kind of idiotic idea that in order to use missiles a crew must switch out the entire pylon losing your advanced EW capability that is now integrated with the RWR, even your HMD (PIDS+ Belgian Defense Configuration) when you already have full MIL-STD-1760 data bus capability…
By keeping the MAU-12 inside the pylon, the aircraft stays “universal.” That is the entire point of the system.
On Monday, it can carry a 2,000lb JDAM using the MAU-12 hooks. On Tuesday, the crew can clutter the pylon by simply adding the adapter and the LAU-129 rail to carry an AIM-120.
As we established MAU-12 is designed to hold lugs (loops) on a bomb. A missile rail like the LAU-129 is designed to be bolted to a surface.
To bridge this gap, the ADU-706 adapter has “fake” lugs on top that click into the MAU-12 hooks. The bottom of that adapter has the bolt holes for the rail. The adapter is “plugged in” tightly to the MAU-12 that they function as a single unit.
Terma’s own technical documentation states that their smart pylons are "based on the Lockheed Martin Wing Weapon Pylon (WWP).
The MAU-12 Ejector Release Unit (ERU) remains the internal core of the PIDS+.
Because the PIDS+ uses the standard MAU-12 mounting points, it can accept the ADU-706 adapter just like a standard pylon.
This was intentional by design so it can remain universal without forcing a customer to buy a 5 different PIDS+ to fill each mission role. Only Gaijin would do something like that haha.
In T.O. 1F-16C-33-1-2 series, which covers non-nuclear munitions loading in it ADU-706 is discussed.
Marvin Engineering catalog ADU-706 P/N 852AS100
Can you post relevant excerpts from the sources
Come on man an ass AI answer. And its not even convincing its all relying on the previous inferences you’ve given it.
Its easy provide me information on ADU-706 (specification sheets from the manufacturer etc), photos of ADU-706 mounted to a MAU-12 or similar ERU. Or the whole package together, LAU-129 > ADU-706 > MAU-12.
I can see what’s happened, we started having a conversion, you started with your view, and slowly mine and @da12thmonkey’s comments have knocked out the pillars of your argument, so fearing you might have to concede literally anything, you thrown a bunch of PDF’s at an AI chat bot with your argument and copy pasted its response.
1 Like
Wtf was Ai about it? I spent an hour typing that going back and forward even reconfirming several times. God forbid anyone makes sure what they say is properly worded and looked into while the do several other things midday.
Surely you can provide the excerpts from your sources that corroborates your claims then.
Surely it’s not ai hallucinations
knocked out pillars of my argument?? fearing to concede??
Haha first of all, its not that serious lol. Not everyone lives on a video game forum & feels threatened like their home has been intruded when questioned.
I was told its not capable as matter of fact. But you guys do not actually know. Yes or No?
Why is you feel the need to swoop in like batman every time a person with a UK profile icon is in a discussion? Definitely a pattern here.
I was in London November, place reminds me of Vegas. Will you start swooping in for me?
it was your same general argument repackaged with this;
as your citation, where are the relevant sections of those materials that back up your argument. What does a ADU-706 even look like?
Marvin Engineering also tried to engineer the LAU-128SE as darth mentioned;
A product purpose built to fix this problem, but if ADU-706 exists and is for this purpose then lets see it?
1 Like