AQM-38
Encyclopedia
The AQM-38 was an American
target drone
, developed by the Radioplane Division of the Northrop Corporation
during the 1950s. Extensively used for surface-to-air missile training, over two thousand of the drones were built during its production run, with the missile continuing in use with the United States Army
and United States Navy
for almost twenty years.
The RP-76 was designed to fly a pre-programmed trajectory on autopilot, with radio command guidance being optional. As with the XKD4R, control was provided by three fins located forwards on the body of the craft. A Luneberg lens
was included to augment the drone's radar signature, and recovery at the end of the flight was by parachute.
fighter of the United States Air Force
, and was extensively used by the U.S. Army for training the operators of surface-to-air missiles; the drone was also used for training USAF fighter pilots in air-to-air gunnery. A slightly modified version, designated RP-78, was supplied to the U.S. Navy; it used a more powerful rocket, producing 440 kN (440,000 N) of thrust, to propel the drone to a top speed of Mach
1.25.
In 1963 the RP-76 and RP-78 received the designations AQM-38A and AQM-38 in the new "tri-service" missile designation system. In all, over 2000 examples of the drone were built by Northrop, with the missile remaining in service with the U.S. Military until the mid 1970s, when they were retired.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
target drone
Target drone
A target drone is an unmanned, remote controlled aerial vehicle, usually used in the training of anti-aircraft crews.In their simplest form, target drones often resemble radio controlled model aircraft...
, developed by the Radioplane Division of the Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack...
during the 1950s. Extensively used for surface-to-air missile training, over two thousand of the drones were built during its production run, with the missile continuing in use with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for almost twenty years.
Design and development
Following flight trials of the XKD4R target drone, developed for the United States Navy, Radioplane redesigned the aircraft into an improved version, designated RP-76, first flying in 1959. Compared to the XKD4R, the RP-76 had redesigned wing fairings, with the vertical control fin being moved to the underside of the missile, as opposed to being on top.The RP-76 was designed to fly a pre-programmed trajectory on autopilot, with radio command guidance being optional. As with the XKD4R, control was provided by three fins located forwards on the body of the craft. A Luneberg lens
Luneberg lens
A Luneburg lens is a spherically symmetric, variable-index refracting structure which will form perfect geometrical images of two given concentric spheres onto each other...
was included to augment the drone's radar signature, and recovery at the end of the flight was by parachute.
Operational history
Flying for the first time in 1959, the RP-76 was most often launched from a F-89 ScorpionF-89 Scorpion
The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an early American jet-powered fighter designed from the outset as an all-weather interceptor. Though its straight wings limited its performance, it was among the first USAF jet fighters with guided missiles, and notably the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air...
fighter of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, and was extensively used by the U.S. Army for training the operators of surface-to-air missiles; the drone was also used for training USAF fighter pilots in air-to-air gunnery. A slightly modified version, designated RP-78, was supplied to the U.S. Navy; it used a more powerful rocket, producing 440 kN (440,000 N) of thrust, to propel the drone to a top speed of Mach
Mach number
Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
1.25.
In 1963 the RP-76 and RP-78 received the designations AQM-38A and AQM-38 in the new "tri-service" missile designation system. In all, over 2000 examples of the drone were built by Northrop, with the missile remaining in service with the U.S. Military until the mid 1970s, when they were retired.