Discover

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 U.S. air-to-air weapon with a nuclear warhead, though the unguided AIR-2 Genie was also nuclear-armed.

Contents

Development

Specifications (GAR-11/AIM-26A)

See also

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 cancelled, but was 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 tonne) W54 warhead shared with the 'Davy Crockett' M-388 recoilless rifle projectile, rather than the larger W25 warhead of the AIR-2 Genie nuclear rocket.
Out of concern for the problems inherent in using nuclear weapons over friendly territory, a conventional version of the GAR-11, the 'GAR-11A', was developed, using a 40 lb (18.1 kg) conventional 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 USAF service, retiring in 1972. The conventional AIM-26B was exported to Switzerland, however, as the 'HM-55', where it was used on Swiss Mirage IIIS fighters. The AIM-26B was produced under license in Sweden as the 'Rb 27', arming Saab Draken fighters. It was retired by the early 1990s.

Specifications (GAR-11/AIM-26A)

★ 'Length': 84.25 in (2.14 m)

★ 'Wingspan': 24.4 in (62 cm)

★ 'Diameter': 11.4 in (29 cm)

★ 'Weight': 203 lb (92.1 kg)

★ 'Speed': Mach 2

★ 'Range': 6 miles (9.6 km)

★ 'Guidance': semi-active radar homing

★ 'Warhead': W54 nuclear, explosive yield 250T

See also

★ W54 Warhead

★ List of missiles

★ 'Related Development'

★
★ AIM-4 Falcon

★
★ AIM-47 Falcon

★
★ AIM-54 Phoenix