AIM-68 Big Q
AIM-68 Big Q | |
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General Information | |
Type | Air-to-air missile |
Manufacturer | Air Force Weapons Laboratory |
development | 1963 |
Technical specifications | |
length | 2920 mm |
diameter | 350 mm |
Combat weight | 225 kg |
span | 860 mm |
drive | Solid rocket motor |
speed | Do 4 |
Range | 65 km |
Furnishing | |
Target location | Semi-active radar, infrared |
Warhead | Nuclear warhead |
Detonator | Distance fuses |
Weapon platforms | F-101B |
Lists on the subject |
The AIM-68 Big Q is an air-to-air missile equipped with a nuclear warhead. It was developed from 1963 by the internal weapons development department of the US Air Force as a replacement for the AIR-2 Genie . A main goal was to develop a lighter and much better missile.
In March 1965, the first wind tunnel tests were carried out with a 1: 5 model. In May of the same year, the Little Q , which was a Big Q fuselage missile fitted with a solid rocket motor only for testing , flew on the White Sands Missile Range . In June 1965 a total of 20 complete hulls were delivered to the Air Force Weapons Laboratory . In December 1965, the solid rocket motors followed, which are the same as the AGM-12 Bullpup . The missiles, now designated as XAIM-68A, were equipped with a seeker head from the AIM-4C Falcon .
Since the AIM-68 project had only a low priority and there were still problems with the F-101B, it was rather slow until it was probably finally ended in August 1966. No test flights were officially completed with the XAIM-68A. The reasons given for the program stop were the rising costs for the ICBM program and the Vietnam War . Since the Air Force did not get the AIM-68, they contented themselves with the genius , whose solid rocket motor was improved.
Others
- The name AIM-68 has never been officially confirmed, which is why it is sometimes found under the name AIM-X.
- The Big Q should actually be called Quetzalcoatl . Since the word was difficult to pronounce, the name "Big Q" ( Big Q uetzalcoatl ) was chosen instead.
Web links
- www.designation-systems.net (English)