Type-52 Guided Munitions Launcher/Explosive

The Type-52 Guided Munitions Launcher/Explosive (T52 GML/E), more commonly known as the Plasma Launcher , is a plasma-based explosive launcher used by the Covenant Empire during the Human-Covenant War.

Design Details
The weapon is capable of launching up to four large explosive plasma grenade-like bolts at a single target, these can be fired individually or all at once if charged for a short time. The bolts track vehicles and bipeds in a similar way to the Needler. These bolts will continue to track even if the operator is killed or if the bolt is redirected by a gravity hammer. They will also stick to the target on impact, like plasma grenades. They also have a slight delay on them which makes the weapon capable of "from the grave kills". The bolts have an arcing trajectory when fired over long distances. It has an appearance slightly similar to the Fuel Rod Gun, as they are both Covenant heavy weapons.

Trivia

 * The sound file for the Plasma Launcher was first released in the Bungie Weekly Update 1/29/10, with the title "Mystery Weapon".
 * Due to the requirement of charging before firing, it could be considered to be the Covenant equivalent of the Spartan Laser. However, according to Chris Carney on the television show, "Game Trailers T.V. with Geoff Keighley," he said that due to it launching up to four large plasma grenade-like bolts, and the fact that those bolts stick like the Plasma Grenade, where as the human Grenade Launcher's rounds bounce like the Frag Grenade it is the Covenant equivalent to the human Grenade Launcher. However, with the recent addition of the Covenant Concussion Rifle as somewhat a counterpart to the Grenade Launcher, it appears that the Plasma Launcher is just a bit more in line with the Spartan Laser than the Grenade Launcher, making it a Covenant cross between the two.