MGM-52 Lance Missile w/launcher

Plastic model kit of an MGM-52 Lance Missile with Launcher

• 1:35 scale
• Based on former Dragon molds
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The MGM-52 Lance was approximately 6.41 m long, had a diameter of 560 mm and a wingspan of about 1.07 m, and weighed between roughly 1,250 and 1,527 kg, depending on the variant and warhead. It was powered by a liquid-fuel engine, reached speeds exceeding Mach 3, and had a maximum range of approximately 125–130 km. Guidance was provided by an inertial system.

The M740 Zero-Length Launcher (LZL) was a lightweight, towed launcher for the MGM-52 Lance tactical surface-to-surface missile. It served as an alternative to the much heavier, self-propelled M752 launcher. Essentially, it was a single-axle trailer equipped with a launch platform. A key feature was its use of the M752’s "basic launch fixture," but without the tracked chassis. Contemporary descriptions explicitly characterize it as a towed launcher designed for special missions, particularly air-mobile operations. During transport, the missile rested in a nearly horizontal position on the platform; for deployment, the launcher could be aligned and elevated. This allowed a single MGM-52 Lance to be deployed independently of the M752 tracked vehicle.

A primary advantage of the M740 was its significantly superior transportability compared to the M752. The trailer and missile could be transported by helicopter, with descriptions noting both internal and external (underslung) transport capabilities. On the ground, the single-axle trailer could be towed by a light or medium truck.