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Library > Fact Sheets > Folding Fin Aircraft Rocket
FOLDING FIN AIRCRAFT ROCKET
Posted 1/29/2007
Printable Fact Sheet
2.75 Inch Folding Fin Aircraft Rocket
The 2.75-inch diameter folding fin aircraft rocket (FFAR) is an unguided aerial weapon fired from a variety of U.S. aircraft in both air-to-air and air-to-ground applications. Unguided air-launched rockets of 2.75 inch diameter were originally developed in the late 1940s by the Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake, California, to be used by interceptors against heavy bombers.
The rocket is spin-stabilized and features four flip-out fins around the nozzle. Maximum range for the 18 pound rocket is around 6,500 yards, but effective range is around 3,700 yards. For air-to-ground uses a variety of warheads are available, including high-explosive fragmentation, flechette, smoke (for target marking), and incendiary. The 2.75-inch rocket was also adopted by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps as a primary weapon for their armed helicopters.
The Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB manages today's FFAR systems for the U.S. Air Force.
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