page_title: Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket
section_title: US Army launchers
hierarchical_section_title: Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket / US Mk 40 FFAR Launchers / US Army launchers
caption_attribution_description: Drawing of XM158 Rocket Pod
context_page_description: The Mk 4 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket, also known as Mighty Mouse, was an unguided rocket used by United States military aircraft. 2.75 inches in diameter, it was designed as an air-to-air weapon for interceptor aircraft to shoot down enemy bombers, but primarily saw service as an air-to-surface weapon. The FFAR has been developed into the modern Hydra 70 series, which is still in service.
context_section_description: Launchers designated under the US Army system:
  Early UH-1B/UH-1C Gunships had the XM-3 Subsystem using paired 24 round rectangular launchers mounted near the back edge of the sliding side doors. These pods were ground reloadable and were semi-permanent aircraft parts. The mounting point had been used to mount booms for 3 SS-11 Launchers on each side for anti-tank missions. The co-pilot had a roof mounted sight and control box to fire these. Later UH-1C and D aircraft had a mount on each side to carry a 7-round pod coupled with paired M-60D machine guns. Some carried M-134 Miniguns with 3000 rounds per gun instead, though these aircraft were normally used by Air Cavalry units, not the Aerial Rocket Artillery (ARA) units.
  Also various ground launchers using discarded aircraft pods were used for fire base defence. A towed configuration consisting of six 19-round pods called a Slammer was tested for airborne infantry support. The range was approximately 7000 meters using Hydra 70 family rockets.
caption: XM158 Rocket Pod
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