Bomarc

The world's first long-range anti-aircraft missile. Authorized by the US Air Force in 1949, the supersomic Bomarc was developed by Boeing and the University of Michigan Aeronautical Research Center, whose initial letters form its name. Bomarc missiles were housed on a constant combat-ready basis in individual launch shelters in remote areas. The alert signal could fire the missiles around the country in 30 seconds. The Model A (military designation IM-99A) had a range of 200 miles, and the B, which followed, could fly 400 miles (about 650 km) and had a ceiling of over 24,000 m.

The production IM-99A first flew on February 24, 1955. Boeing built 700 Bomarc missiles between 1957 and 1964, as well as 420 launch systems. Bomarc was retired from active service during the early 1970s.

wingspan	18 ft 2 in
diameter	35 in
length	45 ft
takeoff weight	approx. 16,000 lb
top speed	More than Mach 2.5
range	More than 400 miles (IM-99B)
ceiling	More than 80,000 ft
power	50,000-lb-thrust solid-fuel rocket (takeoff) two 12,000-lb-thrust Marquardt ramjet engines (cruise)
Armament	Nuclear warhead

Related categories

• ROCKETS, MISSILES, AND LAUNCH VEHICLES
• HISTORY OF ROCKETRY

Also on this site:

Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History

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