AQM-60 Kingfisher
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The AQM-60 Kingfisher, developed by Lockheed Martin, was a target version of the USAF's X-7 test aircraft. The X-7's development began in 1946 after a request from the USAF for a mach-3 unmanned test vehicle. This unmanned test craft eventually evolved into the Kingfisher when the need evolved for a target to test the anti-missile systems, the SAM-A-7/MIM-3 Nike Ajax, SAM-A-25/MIM-14 Nike Hercules, and IM-99/CIM-10. Unfortunately for the tests the Kingfisher proved a bit too precise, managing to evade the vast majority of the anti-missile systems and only being shot down a few times during the tests. This, coupled with political fall-out from the program, led to the eventual discontinuation of production in 1959 and the cancellation of the project in the mid 1960s.
[edit] Specifications
| Length | 11.6 m (38 ft) |
| Wingspan | 3.0 m (10 ft) |
| Height | 2.1 m (7 ft) |
| Diameter | 61 cm (20 in) |
| Weight | 3600 kg (8000 lb) |
| Ceiling | 30000 m (100000 ft) |
| Speed | Mach 4.3; 4500 km/h (2800 mph) |
| Range | 210 km (130 miles) |
| Booster | 2x Thiokol XM45 (5KS50000) solid-fuel rocket; 222 kN (50000 lb) each for 5 s |
| Sustainer | Marquardt XRJ43-MA ramjet |
[edit] Sources
- Directory of US Military Rockets and Missiles
- http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-60.html
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