M80 missile launcher

M80 Multiple Rocket Launch System
	An M80B model, consisting of twin rocket pods mounted onto a portable turret stand.
Production overview
Manufacturer:	Misriah Armory
Type:	Missile launcher
Variants:	M80B MLRS
Specifications
Length:	207 centimeters (81.5 in)
Ammunition type:	M5100 40mm low trajectory missile (LTM)
Capacity:	3 missiles per-pod
Operation:	Salvo fire (3 tubes)
Optics:	None; smart-link-compatible
Service history
In service:	Post-Covenant War conflicts

"Multirole missile launcher."

— REQ card description.^[3]

The M80 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M80 MLRS), known simply as the Rocket pod turret is a portable turret in use by the United Nations Space Command armed forces after the Human-Covenant War.^[1]^[2]

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The M80 consists of a tripodal launcher, in which three rocket tubes are oriented around the launcher's central axis. The weapon assembly is formed of three main modules - a central fire control system with an integrated sensor package, and two of the aforementioned detachable launcher pods. Each of the individual rocket cells features an internal reloading mechanism and anti-blast safety features to mitigate injury to the user in the event of damage to the rockets contained within.^[1]

The M80 is relatively light and self-contained, and is compatible to be fitted on any vehicle or structure compatible with its war-era predecessor, the M79 MLRS.^[1] They may be deployed as a turret mounting on the back of an M12R Rocket Warthog (or other vehicle), or deployed atop a standalone tripod for site defence. If necessary, the individual pods can be taken off of their stand and wielded by a Spartan.^[4]

Ammunition[edit]

Unlike the 65mm Argent V missiles employed by the M80's predecessor, the M79, the M80 fires 40mm M5100 low trajectory missiles (LTMs). Each rocket cell can stock one missile, with the launcher able to fire salvos of three missiles at ground or air targets.^[2] The M5100s are not the only munition fired from the launcher, with a number of other variable munitions also used.^[1]

Variants[edit]

M80 - standard model fitted onto the M12R Rocket Warthog as a turret option.^[5]^[6]
M80B - initially deployed exclusively to elite Unified Ground Command (UNICOM) units assigned to Earth, the M80B integrates additional smart-link functionality and datalinks, including the latest specialized protocols used by the Office of Naval Intelligence and NAVSPECWAR.^[1]
ONI Rocket Pod Turret: A variant used by the Office of Naval Intelligence. This variant can lock on to vehicles and aircraft. It also fires 6 rockets at once, though now it only has 4 shots.^[7]^[8]
Vespin rocket pod: A variant with faster rockets and reload.^[9]^[10]

Operational history[edit]

M80 MLRS' were introduced to replace the aging M79 MLRS systems of the Human-Covenant War. As of 2558, the M80B model had entered service with several distinct upgrades over the standard M80. They were initially fielded exclusively to elite UNICOM military units stationed on Earth, though have slowly begun to replace the M79 in wider usage.^[1]^[2] Thanks to political corruption, even corporate entities such as the Liang-Dortmund Corporation were able to begin fielding M80-equipped Rocket Warthogs under the pretense of security measures against threats on the frontier.^[11]

In October of that year, they were fielded by forces of the UNSC during the Cortana Event - the beginning of the Created uprising.^[4] As of 2560, they are among the most common of MLRS systems in use in the UNSC, and have yet to fully supplant the M79s.^[2]