RIM-55 Typhon MR
The RIM-55 Typhon MR ( M edium R ange, dt: Medium Range) was a medium-range anti-aircraft missile of the US Navy , which was never completed. It was initially developed under the name SAM-N-9 and was intended to replace the RIM-24 Tartar , which is why it was also known as the "Super Tartar".
At the end of the 1950s, the US Navy was aware that the existing anti- aircraft missiles would not be sufficient to combat the ever-increasing number of Soviet fighter aircraft , which also had increasingly better flight performance. Since a separate missile was in operation for short, medium and long ranges (T3 series), it was feared that the different systems would not be coordinated in the event of large air strikes. Initial considerations of developing a uniform missile for all ranges were quickly rejected because the use of a long-range missile over short distances was not financially feasible (and would also have been technically difficult to implement). Ultimately, it was decided that, although different missiles were still required to cover the entire spectrum of operations, this should be controlled via a uniform fire control radar on board the ships. The AN / SPG-59 system was selected for this.
The manufacturer Bendix Corporation received the order to develop the new medium (RIM-55 / SAM-N-9) and long-range missiles ( RIM-50 / SAM-N-8 ). Even before the first prototype was completed, the entire program was canceled in December 1963. Since the RIM-50 had been discontinued because of excessive costs, the advantage of joint route guidance by the AN / SPG-59 fire control radar was lost. With this, the RIM-55 also lost its right to exist, since its other performance values compared to the RIM-24 were not sufficient to replace it. Instead, the US Navy introduced the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow , which was also suitable for combating anti-ship missiles .
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Theoretical data |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4.72 m |
| Span: | 1.07 m |
| Diameter: | 34 cm |
| Weight: | 770 kg |
| Speed: | Do 4 |
| Maximum altitude: | 27,400 m |
| Range: | 74 km |
| Warhead: | 68 kg fragmentation warhead |