Aviation Electronics Technician 1 - Historic Naval Ships Association

CHAPTER 7WEAPONS SYSTEMSAs a result of major developments in currentaircraft design and computer technology, modernaircraft are able to deliver sophisticated weapons to atarget automatically and with unprecedentedaccuracy. These aircraft are designed and built as acompletely integrated weapons system. The weaponssubsystems are interconnected and dependent, tosome extent, on each other or on other aircraftsystems. For example, the bomb release system insome modes of operation is dependent upon theaircraft’s flight control system. In another example,the missile system is interconnected with the aircraft’sradar system for missile guidance. In addition todelivering weapons more accurately, thecomputer-controlled weapons systems provide ahigher degree of safety by significantly reducing thedegree of human error.When avionics technicians are testing, troubleshooting,or performing maintenance on an avionicssystem, they must be aware of the effects the systemcan have on ordnance, either loaded or to be loaded onthe aircraft. To complicate matters, most aircraft inthe Navy’s inventory are multimission aircraft. TheF/A-18 is used as a fighter and an attack aircraft. TheP-3C is an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and a patrolaircraft. The aircraft discussed in this chapter are thefighter, fighter/attack, and the ASW aircraft.FIGHTER AIRCRAFT WEAPONSSYSTEMSLearning Objective: Recognize variousfighter aircraft weapons systems and theiroperating functions.the following systems and subsystems: armamentbasic controls and components, missile controlsystem, multiple weapons release system, M61A120-mm automatic gunfire control system,AN/AWW-4 fuze function control system,AN/ALE-29A or AN/ALE-39 decoy dispensingsystem, and a jettison system.Armament Basic Controls and ComponentsThe F-14 armament system consists of thefollowing basic controls and components that arecommon to all systems: the air combat maneuver(ACM) panel, the armament control panel, the displaycontrol panel, the control stick, the master lightcontrol panel, the landing gear handle, and thearmament safety override switch.AIR COMBAT MANEUVER (ACM)PANEL.— The ACM panel (fig. 7-1) is located on theforward cockpit center console. It contains switchesfor missile preparation, missile operating modeselection, and for arming the systems. Indicators areprovided to inform the pilot of weapon status, whenthe missile is locked on to the target, and when themissile is ready to be launched. The ACM panelswitches are discussed in the following paragraphs.Master Arm Switch.— This switch is importantto the avionics technician who must be aware thatwhen the guard switch is raised and the switch is set toON, a master arm signal is sent to the armament panelto enable the master arm logic circuitry.The following discussion of the F-14 and theF/A- 18 aircraft will provide you with information onthe available aircraft armament systems and the basiccontrols and components for both the fighter and thefighter/attack aircraft.F-14 AIRCRAFT WEAPONS SYSTEMSThe F-14 aircraft is a two seat, supersonic fighteraircraft. The aircraft’s armament system consists ofFigure 7-1.-Air combat maneuver (ACM) panel.7-1