Guided missile launchers provide the mechanical and electrical means of suspending and air-launching a guided missile from an aircraft. Because the physical, mechanical, and functional requirements vary for each particular missile-to-aircraft configuration, a brief description of each type of missile launcher is discussed in the following paragraphs.

The establishment of the all-up-round (AUR) concept simplified the handling of guided missiles at the user level. The AUR concept has improved the reliability, availability, and logistics support of current guided missiles used by fleet activities.

The service life of an AURmissile begins at a naval ammunition depot (NAD) or a naval weapons station (NWS). The NAD or NWS receives the individual components of a missile from the manufacturer. The NAD or NWS assembles the components to make up a complete round, performing the required operational checks and tests. The AUR is then packed into a missile container and is stored as RFI (ready for issue). The missile logbook is also packed inside the missile container. The missile logbook is compiled from the operational records that are received with each component. This logbook remains with the missile until the missile is either expended (fired) or disassembled.

Naval AirWeapons Maintenance Unit (NAWMUs) is assigned to areas close to overseas operating forces.

Generally, they are located at a naval air station (NAS) or a naval magazine station (NAVMAGSTA). The purpose of NAWMUs is to upgrade missiles from a non-RFI (not ready for issue) status to an RFI status. This prevents the time-consuming and costly procedure of shipping non-RFI missiles from overseas operating areas back to the United States for component replacement or scheduled checks and tests. This quick turnaround time increases missile availability to deployed operating units in the fleet. 

Under the AUR concept, missiles are received aboard ship in containers completely assembled except for the wings and fins. Depending upon the particular missile and the type of container involved the wings and fins may or may not be shipped in the same container as the missile. In most cases, the wings and fins are shipped in separate containers that contain either one complete set of wings and fins (4 wings and 4 fins) or two sets of wings and fins (8 wings and 8 fins). 

When containerized missiles, wings, and fins are received aboard ship, the containers are inspected for any obvious damage. When the inspection reveals a damaged container, it must be sent to the decanning area to be opened for inspection of the missile or wings and fins. When a container, missile, or wings and fins do not meet the inspection criteria listed in the appropriate technical manual, they must be tagged non-RFI and kept separate from RFI material for later turn-in. Missiles, wings, and fins can be either deep stowed in magazines still in their sealed containers, or they can be decanned, inspected, and stowed in stanchions located in ready-service magazines or missile magazines. Missiles that are deep stowed in their sealed containers can be off-loaded as RFI. However, when the seal has been broken and/or the missiles, wings, or fins removed from the container, the missiles, wings, and fins must be tagged non-RFI and off-loaded to the appropriateNAD, NWS, orNAWMU. 

When missiles are decanned for ready service, the missile logbooks are removed from the empty containers and turned in to the aviation ordnance control station (AOCS), where they are kept on file until the missile is fired (expended) or off-loaded. When the missile is fired, the missile logbook is mailed to the appropriate NAD or NWS.When the missile is to be off-loaded, the logbook must be placed in the missile container.

Guided missile handling functions for naval air stations or shore-based squadrons are the same as shipboard functions except for the obvious difference in working environments. Space limitations are not as critical ashore and allow for an increase in handling capability.

Other details of missile handling, such as MOAT (missile on aircraft test), supply procedures, missiles firing reports, quality deficiency reports, and loading procedures, are discussed in the appropriate chapters throughout this manual.

Safety precautions have been established for each particular type of missile. All missile handling must be carried out according to the approved local safety regulations of the ship, depot, or wherever the work is being done. All of the safety precautions cannot be discussed in this chapter. However, some of the general safety precautions are as follows: