FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1961
1961 - 1610.PDF
FLIGHT, 2 November 1961 Air-to-Air Excellent results are being achieved by the Societe Matra with the R.530; it is to be standard armament on the Mirage 3C, an example of which is carrying it in this photograph EAGLE LARGEST and by far the longest-ranged of all air-to-air weapons, the 2,000lb Eagle was cancelled early this year. Prime contractor to the US Navy was Bendix Systems Division. FALCON Family of homing missiles embodying progres- sive improve me ms US AIR FORCE Guided Air Rocker 1, 2, 3, 4 and 11), ROYAL SWEDISH AIR FORCE (Robot 327 and 328) GENESIS of the Falcon was described in our 1957 review. Production for the US Air Force Air Defense Command was begun by Hughes Aircraft at a specially built plant in Tucson, Arizona, in 1954. The first versions were GAR-1 and GAR-2, respectively with semi- active radar and infra-red homing guidance. After delivering some 4,000 GAR-Is, Hughes switched to the GAR-ID, with larger control surfaces carried well behind the wing, and delivered nearly 12,000 between 1956 and 1959. Production of IR-homing missiles began in 1956, and from 1957 the GAR-2A allowed for operation over a wider band of ambient temperatures, total -2 and -2A production amounting to 9,500. These missiles are still found in units equipped with the F-101B and F-102A, and some may be supplied to the RCAF for use on the former aircraft. First of the Super Falcons was the GAR-3, introduced in 1958 for issue to F-106 squad- rons. Completely redesigned, it has much improved radar guidance, a pointed radome of new material, a more powerful warhead, new wings and a longer-burning motor. After delivering 300, Hughes moved on to the GAR-3A, with better guidance discrimination and a completely new motor. Deliveries probably now exceed 2,000. In parallel, Hughes are making the IR-homing GAR-4A, with a seeker cell of greater sensitivity. Shortly after our 1960 review was written the Royal Swedish Air Board obtained a production licence, and Saab assisted by many other firms are starting production of the GAR-3 A and -4A, under the designations Rb327 and Rb328. These will form the main armament of the Saab J35F version of the Draken, in conjunction with an improved Saab S7collision-course fire-control and a more powerful Swedish radar. Known as the Nuclear Falcon, the GAR-11 has been in production about 18 months. An offshoot from earlier members of the family, it can be fitted to the F-102 and other aircraft without modification to the launcher or fire-control, and has radar guidance for attacks made some 20° to 30° from dead ahead. Its development was a triumph of kiloton- warhead design. FIRESTREAK IR-homing missile ROYAL AIR FORCE, ROYAL NAVY ORIGINALLY known by the code name Blue Jay, this weapon has been developed by de Havilland (originally the Propeller Co, now de Havilland Aircraft, Manor Road, Hat- field) since 1951. As described in Flight for February 26, 1960, the missile is guided by an infra-red seeker cell behind the glass nose, which locks-on to the target before release from the launch aircraft. Signals of telescope dish position are processed by potted elec- tronics in the forebody and used to control pneumatic actuators ahead of the wings coupled by rods to the rear control surfaces. Proximity-fuze windows in the forebody trigger the warhead surrounding the motor tube. Firestreaks are the primary weapons of squadrons equipped with the Lightning (two missiles per aircraft), Sea Vixen and Javelin (four). GENIE Unguided nuclear rocket US AIR FORCE AS intimated in our 1960 review, this fin- stabilized missile is likely to be carried by later types of Lightning of RAF Fighter Command, as well as the F-lOlBs of the RCAF. It is widely used by F-I01B, F-102 and F-106 squadrons of Air Defense Command, and is said to have a warhead with a lethal radius of more than 1,000ft. MATRA R.511 Semhactive radar homing missile FRENCH AIR FORCE DESCRIBED in Flight for August 19, 1960, this twist-and-steer missile was originally developed with an autodirecteur containing a light-sensitive optical seeker cell. This was abandoned in favour of radar, but overall performance limitations have restricted the R.5II's employment to training and indoctri- nation, almost entirely with Vautour squad- rons. MATRA R.530 Radar or IR homing missile FRENCH AIR FORCE EARLIER Matra and Nord air-to-air missiles have been interim designs, developed to fill the gap until this definitive weapon is ready. Abandoning twist-and-steer in favour of cruciform surfaces, Matra have produced a finely engineered missile of high performance. Behind the hemispherical nose lies the stabi- lized IR telescope or semi-active radar dish aerial, both versions being described as "of equal importance." Next comes the con- tinuous-rod warhead, with four axial prox- imity-fuze aerials, followed by the autopilot, electric batteries, upper and lower cable TABLE 5: AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES GAR-ID Falcon GAR-2A Falcon GAR-3A Falcon GAR-4A FalconGAR-II Nuclear Falcon Firestreak MB-I GenieMatraR.5ll Matra R.530 Nord AA.20 (5103) .. Nord AA.25 (5104) ..Red Top Sidewinder IA Sispre C-7 Sparrow 3 Launch wt (tb) 121 120.5 150 145 203 300 820 397 430 295 298 T55 143 380 Length (in) 78 79.5 86 81 84 125 114.9 122 133 102.4 102.4 113 77 144 Body diam (in) 6.4 6.4 6.6 6.6 II 8.67 17.4 10.24 10.24 9.84 9.84 1.8 6.3 8.5 Span (in) 20 20 24 24 20 29.4 39.4 43.3 31.5 31.5 20 25 39 Range (n.m.) 4.54.5 + 6 +6 + 4!4+ 2.54.1 2.53 7 24*6.2 5 + Altitude peak (ft) 50,000 50,000 70.000 75,000 50,000 + 59,000 98,500 50,000 50,000 + 50,000 + Mach number 2 + 2 +3 32 2.4-3 1.82 + 1.71.7 3 + 2.5 1.9 2.3 + Warhead 201b? 201b? 401b? 401b! N (2kT?) 501b? N (2kT?) 551b 601b? 51 Ib 51 Ib 681b 101b 551b 601b * Reduced to about 3,500ft at sea level.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
