Harman Patil (Editor)

AIM 26 Falcon

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
AIM-26 Falcon

The AIM-26 Falcon was a larger, more powerful version of the AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missile built by Hughes. It is the only guided American air-to-air missile with a nuclear warhead to be produced, though the unguided AIR-2 Genie rocket was also nuclear-armed.

Contents

Development

Starting in 1956 Hughes Electronics began the development of an enlarged version of the GAR-1D Falcon that would carry a nuclear warhead. It was intended to provide a sure kill in attacks on Soviet heavy bomber aircraft. The original development was for semi-active radar homing and heat-seeking versions based on the conventional GAR-1/GAR-2 weapons, under the designations GAR-5 and GAR-6, respectively. The program was canceled, but was later revived in 1959.

The resultant GAR-11 (later AIM-26A) entered service in 1961, carried by Air Defense Command F-102 Delta Dagger interceptors. It used a radar proximity fuze and semi-active radar homing.

The GAR-11 used a sub-kiloton (250 ton)-yield W54 warhead shared with the 'Davy Crockett' M388 recoilless rifle projectile, rather than the larger W25 warhead of the AIR-2 Genie.

Out of concern for the problems inherent in using nuclear weapons over friendly territory, a conventional version, the GAR-11A, was developed, using a 40 lb (18 kg) high explosive warhead.

After 1963, the weapon was redesignated AIM-26. The nuclear version became AIM-26A, the conventional model AIM-26B. From 1970 to 1972 the nuclear warheads of the AIM-26A weapons were rebuilt for the nuclear version of the AGM-62 Walleye glide bomb.

The AIM-26 saw little widespread use in American service, retiring in 1972. The conventional AIM-26B was exported to Switzerland as the HM-55, where it was used on Swiss Mirage IIIS fighters. The AIM-26B was produced under license (and modified) in Sweden as the Rb 27, arming Saab Draken J-35F and 35J fighters. It was retired in 1998. When Finland bought Drakens, the license-manufactured Swedish Falcons were included.

Specifications (GAR-11/AIM-26A)

  • Length: 84.25 in (2.140 m)
  • Wingspan: 24.4 in (62 cm)
  • Diameter: 11.4 in (29 cm)
  • Weight: 203 lb (92 kg)
  • Speed: Mach 2
  • Range: 6 mi (9.7 km)
  • Guidance: semi-active radar homing
  • Warhead: W54 nuclear, explosive yield 250 t TNT equivalent

    • Survivors

    Below is a list of museums which have an AIM-26 in their collection:

  • Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, Georgia (AIM-26 A)
  • National Museum of Naval Aviation, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida (AIM-26 A)
  • DVHAA Historical Aircraft Museum, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Pennsylvania (AIM-26 A)
  • Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo / Aviation Museum of Central Finland, Finland (AIM-26 B / RB 27)
  • Robotmuseum / Robot Museum Arboga, Sweden (AIM-26 B / RB 27)
  • Västerås Flygmuseum / Västerås Aviation Museum Västerås, Sweden (AIM-26 B / RB 27)

    • References

    AIM-26 Falcon Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA