Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z
Talos
 Talos Credit: via Andreas Parsch |
AKA: IM-70;RIM-8;RIM-8A/.../F;SAM-N-6;W30. Status: Retired 1979. First Launch: 1952-10-28. Last Launch: 1952-10-28. Number: 1 . Thrust: 89.20 kN (20,053 lbf). Gross mass: 3,167 kg (6,982 lb). Height: 10.06 m (33.00 ft). Diameter: 0.76 m (2.49 ft). Span: 2.74 m (8.98 ft). Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).
Talos was a long-range ramjet-powered naval surface-to-air missile operational with the US Navy 1959-1979. Talos had its genesis in the Bumblebee technology program, begun in 1944. First flight of a ramjet test vehicle was in 1946, and first test of the beam riding guidance system was in 1948. First Bendix Talos prototype launch was in October 1952. Development was extended as the Navy increased the requirements on the missile, with the first Talos not being deployed with the fleet until 1959. Versions included:
- RIM-8A, initial production version, 1959.
- RIM-8B, version of -8A equipped with a W-30 2-5 kT nuclear warhead
- RIM-8C, version with double the range and an improved continuous-rod warhead. Operational 1960.
- RIM-8D, version of -8C with nuclear warhead
- RIM-8E, Unified Talos, operational 1962, with improved altitude capability, continuous-wave seeker for terminal homing, and conventional or nuclear warheads interchangeable aboard ship
- RIM-8F, -8C's retrofitted with continuous-wave seekers
- RIM-8G, improved beam-riding guidance, operational 1966.
- RIM-8H, anti-radar missile, tested in 1965 and fired in Vietnam against SAM radars.
- RIM-8J, improved semi-active radar guidance, operational 1968.
- MQM-8G Vandal supersonic targets, surplus missiles converted after retirement from the fleet in 1974-1979.
- Land-based Talos, development begun by the USAF as an interim weapon until their Bomarc SAM became operational. Project transferred to the Army in 1957 and dropped soon thereafter.
Talos was credited with three MiG kills at long range in Vietnam. By the 1970's the missile's guidance system was obsolete, making the missile vulnerable to jamming and the ship vulnerable to anti-radiation missiles. The ramjet could achieve great range, but was subject to flameouts and couldn't make sharp maneuvers. Talos was retired in 1974-1979 and replaced by new-technology Standard-ER solid propellant missiles.
The missile used a solid-propellant first stage to bring the missile to ramjet ignition speed, after which the ramjet took over and powered the missile continuously until intercept. The missile navigated within a radio beam projected by the launch ship toward the target, with the missile's own semi-active radar taking over for terminal homing on the target aircraft. The terminal homing, with its distinctive small antennas around the ramjet inlet, was not used on the nuclear versions.
Recurring Price $: 0.386 million. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 0.386 million. Maximum range: 311 km (193 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead: W30. Warhead yield: 4.70 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Maximum speed: 3,950 kph (2,450 mph). Initial Operational Capability: 1959. Total Production Built: 1483. Floor: 300 m (980 ft). Surveillance Radar: SP-56/C. Tracking Radar: SPG-49.
More at: Talos.
| Bumblebee BTV Applied Physics Lab 1950's US Navy propulsion test vehicle; Burner Test Vehicle. |
| Bumblebee STV American test vehicle in the 1940's. The primary goal of the U.S. Navy's Bumblebee missile program was to develop a ramjet-powered surface-to-air missile. Bumblebee test vehicles and technologies led to the operational Terrier and Talos missile of the 1950's. |
| Bumblebee XPM RTV-N-6 Applied Physics Lab 1950's US Navy research test vehicle; Experimental Prototype Missile. |
| Cobra-BTV American test vehicle, part of the U.S. Navy's Bumblebee missile program that led to the operational Talos ramjet-powered surface-to-air missile in the 1950's. |
| HPB American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Talos + 1 x M56A1 |
| RGM-8H American tactical cruise missile. |
| RGM-8J American tactical cruise missile. |
| RIM-8A American surface-to-air missile. |
| RIM-8B American surface-to-air missile. |
| RIM-8C American surface-to-air missile. |
| RIM-8D American surface-to-air missile. |
| RIM-8G American surface-to-air missile. |
| Space Data LCLV American sounding rocket. Three stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Talos + 1 x Sergeant + 1 x M57A1 |
| Talos RIM-8E American surface-to-air missile. |
| Talos RIM-8F American surface-to-air missile. |
| Talos Terrier American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Talos booster + 1 x Terrier. |
| Tater American test vehicle. Three stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Talos + 1 x Terrier + 1 x Recruit |
| Vandal MQM-8G American surface-to-air drone. Drone version. |
| Vandal XBQM-8F American surface-to-air drone. |
| XIM-70 American surface-to-air missile. Land-based version. Full scale development begun in 1954. Project cancelled in 1957. |
Family: ship-launched, surface-to-air, US Cruise Missiles. Country: USA. Launch Sites: White Sands. Stages: Talos Mk 11 Mod 2. Agency: Bendix. Bibliography: 2.
1952 October 28 - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Talos.
1973 August 15 - . Launch Site: Tonopah. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). The Talos-Terrier-Recruit (TATER) launch vehicle was successfully test launched at the Tonopah Test Range. .
1973 November 2 - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 March 11 - . 22:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 March 16 - . 18:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 March 16 - . 19:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 March 29 - . 22:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 March 29 - . 23:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 March 30 - . 02:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 April 8 - . 17:54 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 April 8 - . 18:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 May 2 - . 20:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 May 7 - . Launch Site: Tonopah. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1974 May 7 - . 14:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
1975 January 8 - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAMSO. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).
1975 January 8 - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAMSO. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).
1975 March 7 - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAMSO. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).
1975 April 15 - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAMSO. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).
1975 June 3 - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAMSO. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).
1975 December 3 - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAMSO. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).
1976 January 14 - . Launch Site: Tonopah. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- SAMS/TATER 602 - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).
1976 March 9 - . 13:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- SAMS/TATER 509 - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).
1976 March 27 - . Launch Site: Tonopah. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- SAMS/TATER 516 - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).
1976 April 25 - . Launch Site: Tonopah. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Tater.
- SAMS/TATER 512 - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).
1987 May 14 - . 16:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Talos Terrier.
1987 May 14 - . 16:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Talos Terrier.
1987 May 14 - . 16:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Talos Terrier.
1987 May 14 - . 16:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Talos Terrier.
1990 January 30 - . 21:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: HPB.
1991 February 6 - . 07:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Space Data LCLV.
- Target / active plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 510 km (310 mi).
1991 April 12 - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: HPB.
1992 March 29 - . 08:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: HPB.
1992 April 15 - . 09:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: HPB.
1993 January 28 - . Launch Site: Wake Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: HPB.
1993 February 11 - . Launch Site: Wake Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: HPB. FAILURE: Failure.
1993 May 23 - . 09:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC20. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Space Data LCLV.
1993 May 28 - . 08:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC20. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Space Data LCLV.
1996 October 16 - . 10:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Space Data LCLV.
1997 February 12 - . 21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Space Data LCLV.
1997 February 23 - . 10:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Space Data LCLV.
Back to top of page
Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z
© 1997-2019 Mark Wade - Contact
© / Conditions for Use