McDonnell ADM-20
The McDonnell GAM-72 , later called ADM-20 Quail , was a missile for use from a Boeing B-52 . It was used by the USAF and manufactured by the US manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Corporation . The GAM-72 described maneuvers that corresponded to a real B-52. In addition, the electromagnetic radiation and the radar cross-section also corresponded to that of a B-52. This served to confuse the enemy air defenses by simulating several equivalent targets. It is a crewless, autopilot-controlled , single- engine shoulder- wing aircraft with a turbojet drive .
technology
The GAM-72 has a fuselage with vertical sides, double vertical stabilizers both above and below the fuselage and a delta wing . To further enlarge the radar cross-section, a radar reflector was installed in the bow area . A Chaff projector and an infrared source could also be installed. The missile was folded up for transport so that the external dimensions did not exceed 3.94 × 0.74 × 0.66 m. Up to eight GAM-72s could be carried in a B-52. In normal use, four missiles were stowed in the rear of the bomb bay. Before being dropped, they were lowered and unfolded. The missile's autopilot could be preprogrammed on the ground. It made it possible to fly two turns and make a change in speed. The engines were in the rear of the missile.
development
The development of the missile began in 1955. Three variants were advanced, the GAM-71 Buck Duck, a rocket - propelled disruptor for the B-36 , the SM-73 Bull Goose, a ground-launchable long-range disruptor and the GAM-72 Green Quail.
In February 1956 the decision was made that the production of the GAM-72 should be carried out at McDonnell. At the same time the name was shortened from Green Quail to Quail. In July 1957 the tests on board a B-52 began and in November 1957 the first missile XGAM-72 was dropped from the carrier aircraft. He was performing a non-powered glide flight. The first powered flight was carried out in August 1958, and production was approved in December 1958. A total of 34 test drops had been carried out with the missile by 1960. On September 13, 1960, the first series missiles were delivered, which were ready for use on February 1, 1961.
The General Electric J85-GE-3 used initially proved to be unreliable and were swapped for the J85-GE-7 in early 1960. The missiles, which were about 90 kg heavier and had a slightly smaller wing area, were given the designation GAM-72A and made their first flight in March 1960. Except for the first 24 series missiles, all were delivered as GAM-72A.
In 1963, all remaining GAM-72A received an altimeter so that they can also be used in low-level flight. This variant was named GAM-72B.
During the planning and development phase in 1955, the missile was listed by the USAF as B-72 in the sequence of bomber designations. In June 1963 the missiles were renamed:
| old name | new name |
|---|---|
| GAM-72 | ADM-20A |
| GAM-72A | ADM-20B |
| GAM-72B | ADM-20C |
commitment
The GAM-72 was an effective decoy at the beginning of its use. However, tests already showed in 1972 that advances in radar technology could distinguish the real B-52 from the decoy with a certainty of over 90%. Thereupon the withdrawal began. The last missiles were withdrawn from operational readiness on June 30, 1978 and removed from the arsenals in December 1978. A total of 616 of these missiles were manufactured, of which 561 were delivered to the Air Force.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data from the McDonnell ADM-20B / C |
|---|---|
| length | 3.94 m |
| span | 1.65 m |
| height | 1.02 m |
| Weight | 540 kg |
| speed | Do 0.95 |
| Service ceiling | 15,200 m |
| Range | 650 km |
| drive | a General Electric J85 -GE-7 with 10.9 kN |
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ ADM-20 Quail - Aircraft Launched Missiles - Strategic Air Command - Nuclear Warhead. In: www.strategic-air-command.com. Retrieved August 2, 2016 .