The GAM-63 Rascal, first designated XB-63, was a supersonic air-to-surface guided missile with a nuclear warhead, developed in the United States from 1946 by Bell Aircraft Corporation for the Air Force. It was meant as a stand-off weapon that Strategic Air Command bombers, in practice the B-47 converted to the DB-47 director configuration, could launch from as far as about 90 nautical miles from a defended target. After release a rocket engine accelerated the missile, an inertial guidance system flew it toward the target, and a nose radar with a command link to the director aircraft allowed course corrections during the terminal dive. The first guided launch took place in October 1953 from a DB-47. The program was terminated in late 1958, shortly before the first Rascal-equipped Strategic Air Command unit was to become operational, in favor of the longer range Hound Dog missile.
Facts
Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category) Classification
Service StatusPrototype or Experimental 1 In the Other Atlases
Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source GAM-63 Rascal (GlobalSecurity.org)Development paragraphQuote, Development paragraph
In 1946 the Bell Aircraft Corporation was awarded a study contract for a rocket-propelled pilotless vehicle capable of carrying a nuclear warhead from a manned bomber to a priority target.
Sources
1. GAM-63 Rascal (GlobalSecurity.org)
Opening paragraph
was an air-to-surface supersonic guided missile armed with a nuclear warhead.
Program history
The AGAM-63 program was terminated in late 1958, shortly before the first Rascal-equipped SAC unit was to become operational
Development paragraph
In 1946 the Bell Aircraft Corporation was awarded a study contract for a rocket-propelled pilotless vehicle capable of carrying a nuclear warhead from a manned bomber to a priority target.
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