Anti-Radiation Missiles of the USAF & USN

[Zipper730]

The first design I can readily think of is the XGAM-67 Crossbow (USAF)

• Requirement issued in 1953: It was designed to help XB-50's penetrate the USSR
• The design was based on the RP-54 Drone, which was, in turn, based on the Q-3
• It seemed to be designed for anti-radar first, but was ultimately cancelled due to technological problems and subsonic only speed (1957).
• There were proposals to use it as a chaff-layer which could fly a race-track pattern as the bombers would go through, an automated ECM platform, as well as a reconnaissance device.
• Dimensions & Weights
  • Length: 20'0.2"
  • Diameter: 32"
  • Wingspan: 12'7.8"
  • Weight: 2700 pounds
• Range: 300 miles

There were a proposal for a replacement called the WS-121B Longbow, which was supersonic, though I have no real information on the design, other than

• It was expected to have a range of 200 miles
• Was jet-powered and could cruise at subsonic speed, with a supersonic dash
• Cancelled in 1960 (unsure what part of 1960).

The USN developed a design called the ASM-N-8 Corvus

• Requirement issued in April 1955
• It was capable of supersonic speed, able to home on radar, or be illuminated by radar from an attacking aircraft.
• It could carry a nuclear or conventional warhead.
• Glided flights began in March of 1960
• Program was cancelled in July of 1960 when the USAF asserted control over long-ranged missile programs, and them dumped it
• Dimensions & Weights
  • Length: 16'0"
  • Diameter: 19"
  • Wingspan: 5'0"
  • Weight: 1750 pounds
• Performance & Range
  • Speed: Mach 3.75
  • Altitude: 50000'
  • Range: 170 nm at high altitudes; 100 nm at low altitudes

Honestly, I think the Corvus would have been a good choice for the USAF, particularly for smaller aircraft like the B-57, and B-66.

 

[Fighterguy]

Could these programs have been scrapped because there was others in the pipeline that demonstrated greater potential, like AGM-45 Shrike?

 

[Zipper730]

F Fighterguy

Unsure, the AGM-45 was first fielded it seemed in a semi-prototype basis in 1962, and I think it used some of the Corvus guts.

 

[GreenKnight121]

F Fighterguy

Unsure, the AGM-45 was first fielded it seemed in a semi-prototype basis in 1962, and I think it used some of the Corvus guts.

Looks like Shrike was under development about 2 years before Corvus was canceled - while much shorter-ranged, Shrike had a standard form-factor, and was closely-related to an in-service missile, thus greatly simplifying development, integration, and use.

It would seem to be a more-versatile weapon than Corvus - much better suited to a tactical environment, and with a weight of less than 1/4 of Corvus, more could be carried in a suppression role - and it could be carried without significantly reducing ordnance payload in a self-escort role.

Corvus seems to be best used to clear a path for strategic bombers, and a B-58 carrying 4 ASM-N-8 on the 4 wing-root weapons stations (originally intended for 4 x B43 2,000lb nuclear stores, and also later fitted for B61 700lb nuclear stores), and leading a B-58/B-70/B-52 strike package, would seem perfect.

Texas Instruments AGM-45 Shrike

Development of the Shrike began at the NWC (Naval Weapons Center) in 1958 under the designation ASM-N-10. The missile was intended to counter the threat of the then new Soviet S-75 surface-to-air missile system (known to the NATO as SA-2 Guideline) by homing on the emissions of the SA-2's "Fan Song" guidance radar. The ASM-N-10 was based on the airframe of the AAM-N-6/AIM-7C Sparrow III missile, but had a larger warhead, smaller rocket motor, and smaller tail fins. In June 1963, the ASM-N-10 was redesignated as AGM-45A, and large-scale production of the initial AGM-45A-1 model for the USAF and the U.S. Navy began at Texas Instruments and Sperry Rand/Univac. It entered service with the Navy in 1965.

 

[Zipper730]

Looks like Shrike was under development about 2 years before Corvus was canceled - while much shorter-ranged

That I didn't know, but I should point out that the Corvus started in 1955.

It would seem to be a more-versatile weapon than Corvus - much better suited to a tactical environment, and with a weight of less than 1/4 of Corvus, more could be carried in a suppression role - and it could be carried without significantly reducing ordnance payload in a self-escort role.

Definitely true.

Corvus seems to be best used to clear a path for strategic bombers, and a B-58 carrying 4 ASM-N-8 on the 4 wing-root weapons stations (originally intended for 4 x B43 2,000lb nuclear stores, and also later fitted for B61 700lb nuclear stores), and leading a B-58/B-70/B-52 strike package, would seem perfect.

The problem could be range, the B-58 wasn't power limited for the most part, but you needed more engine power to push to high speed.

That said, the ASM-N-8 or ASM-N-10 would have been useful on aircraft such as the B-57 Canberra or B-66 Destroyer.