AIR-2 genius
| AIR-2 genius | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| General Information | |
| Type | Air-to-air missile |
| Local name | MB-1, AIR-2 |
| NATO designation | AIR-2 genius |
| Country of origin |
 United States
|
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| development | 1955 |
| Commissioning | 1957 |
| Working time | 1957-1982 |
| Technical specifications | |
| length | 2.95 m |
| diameter | 445 mm |
| Combat weight | 373 kg |
| span | 1,016 mm |
| drive | Thiokol SR49-TC-1 solid rocket engine |
| speed | Mach 3.3 (1,100 m / s) |
| Range | 9.6 km |
| Furnishing | |
| Warhead | W25 nuclear warhead 1.5 kt |
| Detonator | Programmed timer |
| Weapon platforms | Planes |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Douglas AIR-2A Genie (originally called the Douglas MB-1 Genie called) was an unguided air-to-air missile from American production, with a nuclear warhead type W25 with an explosive force of 1.5 to 2 kilotons equipped .
The rocket was powered by an SR49-TC-1 engine (manufacturer: Thiokol ), which accelerated it to a speed of Mach 3. The range was only 9.5 km, which required a quick turning maneuver of the interceptor after the launch of the missile in order to escape the destruction radius of the nuclear weapon explosion. The Genie missile was intended for use against enemy bomber formations. Use against individual aircraft was practically impossible because the weapon was unguided.
The weapon was used on the Northrop F-89J Scorpion , McDonnell F-101B Voodoo and Convair F-106A Delta Dart aircraft.
On July 19, 1957, over the Yucca Flats test site in Nevada, as part of the “ Plumbbob John Experiment ”, a genius rocket was fired from a Northrop F-89J at an altitude of 4,600 meters and detonated, which was the first and only nuclear weapon test a nuclear air-to-air missile.
Several thousand examples of this weapon were made in the late 1950s until production ended in 1962. The Genie was in service until 1982 and was retired because its carrier aircraft were also decommissioned.
In addition to the AIR-2A, a training version without a nuclear warhead was also produced, which was called the ATR-2A "Ting-a-Ling" .
An improved version was to be developed under the name "AIR-2B Super Genie", but this was not realized.
The Genie's rocket motor was also used in some sounding rockets . These were the Astrobee 500 as well as the Ute and Payute missiles. In addition, converted Genie rockets were used as ALARR (Air launched - air recovered rocket) to explore the high atmosphere.
