Bomarc Missile Program
| CIM-10 Bomarc | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A Bomarc missile begins its "climb phase" of launch. The midcourse phase and homing dive used ramjets. | |
| Role | ground-controlled interception |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer |
Boeing Airplane Company Pilotless Aircraft Division |
| First flight | 10 August 1952 - crashed (XF-99) 1954 October - successful (7th prototype) 1958 August - first production IM |
| Introduction | 1 September 1959 (3 missiles) |
| Retired | 1 October 1972 |
| Primary user | USAF & RCAF Air Defense Commands |
| Number built | >100 "experimental and service-test" 570 operational |
The Boeing CIM-10 Bomarc (IM-99 Weapon System prior to September 1962) was a supersonic long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) used during the Cold War for the air defense of North America. In addition to being the first operational long-range SAM, it was the only SAM deployed by the US Air Force.
Stored horizontally in a launcher shelter with movable roof, the missile was erected, fired vertically using rocket boosters to high altitude, and then tipped over into a horizontal Mach 2.5 cruise powered by ramjet engines. This lofted trajectory allowed the missile to operate at a maximum range as great as 250 miles (400 km). Controlled from the ground for most of its flight, when it reached the target area it was commanded to begin a dive, activating an onboard active radar homing seeker for terminal guidance. A radar proximity fuse detonated the warhead, either a large conventional explosive or the W40 nuclear warhead.
The Air Force originally planned for a total of 52 sites covering most of the major cities and industrial regions in the US. The US Army was deploying their own systems at the same time, and the two services fought constantly both in political circles and in the press. Development dragged on, and by the time it was ready for deployment in the late 1950s, the nuclear threat had moved from manned bombers to the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), while the Army had successfully deployed their own system that filled any possible role in the 1960s, in spite of Air Force claims to the contrary.
As testing continued, the Air Force reduced its plans to sixteen sites, and then again to eight with an additional two sites in Canada. The first US site was declared operational in 1959, but with only a single working missile. Bringing the rest of the missiles into service took years, by which time the system was totally obsolete. Deactivations began in 1969 and by 1972 all Bomarc sites had been shut down. A small number were used as target drones, and only a few remain on display today.
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Wikipedia