Weapons Carriage and Release Systems

Overview

L3Harris is a recognized industry leader for airborne weapons carriage and release systems.  L3Harris bomb racks and launchers have been in use on most domestic U.S. and international fighter platforms since the 1960s and continue to be the solution of choice for the United States and its allies on the next-generation platforms of tomorrow (F-14, Tornado, F-15, F-2, F-16,  F-18, F-22, F-35, Harrier, P-8, KF-21, MQ-9, and more).

L3Harris Release Systems are designed and manufactured across multiple sites in the U.S. and UK, with a variety of products for a wide range of applications, from legacy pyrotechnic-actuated parent bomb racks to pneumatically-actuated smart multiple carriage racks, missile launchers, sonobuoy launchers, and ancillary release products such as pylon umbilicals.

Resources

  • L3Harris Release Systems Catalog thumbnail image

    L3Harris Release Systems Product Catalog

Core Weapons and Carriage Release Systems

View of MQ-9 Reaper in flight, view from below, thumbnail image

Pneumatic Single Carriage and Release Systems

Pneumatic carriage systems are cleaner, lighter and easier to manage differing release velocities.
L3Harris' BRU-81 and BRU-82 Electric Carriage Release Systems Units thumbnail image

Electric Single Carriage and Release Systems

L3Harris continues to advance the state-of-the-art in suspension and release equipment by designing and developing Electric Bomb Release Units (BRUs).
L3Harris' Gnat Electro-Mechanical Stores Release Unit thumbnail image

Gravity Release Units

These lightweight systems are electro-mechanically operated and use gravity to release their payload.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor takes off for a training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Aug. 21, 2025. Thumbnail image.

Pneumatic Eject Missile Launchers

Operating in harsh environments, pneumatic eject systems are fast-acting, requiring high gas pressures and robust mechanical components.
L3Harris Pneumatic Multi-Station Carriers

Pneumatic Multi-Station Carriers

As weapons shrink and pressure grows to maximize the performance of current assets, L3Harris has developed multiple carriage options that embed two or more pneumatic release units.
Airmen assigned to the 389th Fighter Squadron fly an F-15E Strike Eagle at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Aug. 22, 2022, thumbnail image

Pyrotechnic Single Carriage and Release Systems

L3Harris BRU-46/A and BRU-47/A are a matched pair of 14-inch and 14/30-inch pyrotechnic bomb release units (BRUs) in use with the United States Air Force as well as various international users.
L3Harris Safe Release Components

Safe Release Components

L3Harris is the market leader in components that ensure safe release of payloads.
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon returns to its objective after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve over Iraq, Aug. 11, 2018. Thumbnail image

Smart Multiple Carriage Racks

Releases two smart weapons from a single station.

Contact the Weapons Carriage and Release Systems Team

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SAS Release Systems Form 50/50 Image

The appearance of U.S. Department of War visual information does not imply or constitute DOW endorsement.