Arnold Defense, the St Louis based international manufacturer and supplier of 2.75-inch rocket launchers, is unveiling a concept named the “FLETCHER” 2.75-inch/70mm Weapon System at SOFEX, taking place in Amman, Jordan from May 8-10, 2018. The FLETCHER system can be mounted on land-based military vehicles as well as, potentially, marine and littoral platforms. The FLETCHER Laser Guided Rocket Launcher System can be seen at SOFEX on the Oshkosh Defense stand A609, where it is displayed on an Oshkosh Defense® Special Purpose All-Terrain Vehicle (S-ATV) for the very first time.
The FLETCHER concept is supported by a team of global defense industry companies collaborating under Arnold’s leadership to combine their complimentary expertise. Working together, the team is able to provide a full-system approach to FLETCHER ranging from design, validation, testing, manufacture and full system integration on a variety of land and maritime applications.
Traditionally, 2.75-inch rocket systems have been used as an area suppression weapon, ordinarily deployed by both fixed and rotary wing aviation assets. The team has turned this concept on its head with the advancement of laser guided rocket technology to meet the modern demands of land-based, vehicle mounted and dismounted asymmetric warfare, for special and conventional forces.
Photo caption: Arnold Defense FLETCHER laser guided rocket launcher fitted to an Oshkosh S-ATV at SOFEX 2018 (image courtesy of Arnold Defense)
FLETCHER is a unique design that allows for ease of operation, maintenance and sustainment in support of combat operations. FLETCHER employs an existing suite of guidance modules, rockets and warheads which are already used in well-known programs and are readily available to global forces. Working in-concert with world-class designation equipment, FLETCHER is a fully integrated weapon system that can engage targets at ranges up to 3.1 miles, giving land forces capability that previously required the deployment of air assets.
Jim Hager, President and CEO of Arnold Defense said “FLETCHER is a very exciting new development for Arnold Defense and our team partners. Our rocket launchers are already well-established on airborne platforms internationally. Transitioning onto the land (on both vehicular and dismounted roles) and also into marine environments, with FLETCHER, is a natural progression for us and will provide these forces with a completely new capability.”
He added: “We’re expecting to have the FLETCHER system ready for sale towards the end of 2018”.
