Abstract: A solenoid operated arming unit under the control of an aircraft pilot wh allows the pilot to selectively eject an armed or unarmed weapon at his discretion. To release an armed weapon, the solenoid is energized to thereby lock opposed jaws about a ball and arming wire assembly; as the weapon falls away from the aircraft, the immobilized arming wire assembly pulls free of the weapon fuze to thereby arm the weapon. To release an unarmed weapon, the solenoid is not energized; as the weapon falls away from the aircraft, the ball and arming wire assembly is pulled free from the arming unit retaining jaws and remains attached to the weapon fuze.The arming unit is configured to eliminate deleterious arming unit preloading and is so constructed that the arming wire assembly may be jettisoned after an armed weapon is dropped to thereby prevent damage to the aircraft from arming wire assemblies which flail in the aircraft's windstream.