Cape Kennedy to Ascension: The Air Force Missile Testing Range
The Cold War era brought about new missile capabilities and with that the vast testing ranges that stretched from Cape Canaveral to Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Started in 1947, this range was crucial for testing missile systems, tracking their performance, and ensuring they met standards for accuracy, reliability, range, safety, and performance
Why Cape Canaveral to Ascension?
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Safety Considerations
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Unobstructed Testing Environment
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Tracking and Data Collection
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Logistical Support
Navaho Missile: The Supersonic Pioneer
The Navaho Missile was an early cruise missile developed by North American Aviation. It was designed to be a long-range, supersonic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. Although it never reached operational status, the Navaho program contributed significantly to the development of high-speed aerodynamics and rocket propulsion technologies.
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It featured one of the earliest inertial guidance systems, which provided autonomous navigation without the need for external signals.
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This same technology was used in the design of the Redstone and Thor rockets.
Martin Mace: The Tactical Missile
The Martin Mace was a tactical cruise missile developed by the Glenn L. Martin Company. It was an improvement over the earlier Matador missile, offering greater range and accuracy. The Mace could be launched from both ground-based and mobile platforms, making it a versatile addition to the U.S. military’s arsenal.
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The ground-launched version, Mace “A,” had a range of about 650 miles, while the air-launched Mace “B” could reach up to 1,400 miles.
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It featured a terrain contour matching (TERCOM) guidance system, which significantly improved its accuracy.
Hound Dog: The Air-Launched Stand-Off Missile
The AGM-28 Hound Dog was an air-launched, long-range, supersonic cruise missile developed by North American Aviation. Carried by the B-52 Stratofortress, the Hound Dog was designed to penetrate enemy defenses and deliver a nuclear payload. It featured a turbojet engine that allowed it to travel at high speeds and had an impressive range.
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The Hound Dog was designed to carry a W28 nuclear warhead, making it a powerful component of the U.S. strategic bomber fleet during the Cold War.
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Long Range: With a range of over 500 miles, the Hound Dog allowed B-52 bombers to launch attacks from a considerable distance, keeping the aircraft out of range of enemy defenses.
SM-62 Snark: The Strategic Cruise Missile
The SM-62 Snark was a long-range, subsonic cruise missile developed by Northrop Corporation, designed for strategic bombardment and had a intercontinental range. It was equipped with a nuclear warhead and was guided by an inertial navigation
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The SM-62 Snark was the first intercontinental cruise missile developed by the United States, preceding the deployment of more advanced Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) like the Atlas and Titan.
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The Snark had a range of 5,500 miles, making it capable of reaching targets across continents.
CIM-10 BOMARC: The Interceptor Missile
The CIM-10 BOMARC was a surface-to-air missile developed by Boeing and the Michigan Aeronautical Research Center (MARC). It was designed to intercept and destroy enemy bombers. The BOMARC featured a ramjet engine that enabled it to reach supersonic speeds.
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The BOMARC was the first anti-aircraft, long-range, surface-to-air missile (SAM) in the world.
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The missile was equipped with either a conventional or nuclear warhead which allowed defensive flexibility.
