The AQM-35 was a
supersonic
Supersonic speed is the speed of an object that exceeds the speed of sound ( Mach 1). For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) at sea level, this speed is approximately . Speeds greater than five times ...
target
drone
Drone most commonly refers to:
* Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg
* Unmanned aerial vehicle
* Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft
* Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone
Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to:
...
produced by the
Northrop Corporation.
Overview
The AQM-35 program began life in 1953 as the Model RP-61 supersonic target drone. In June 1954 the
United States Air Force awarded Northrop a contract for development of the project as the Q-4; the first flight-capable XQ-4 was launched in 1956.
The XQ-4 was capable of either ground or air launch, though the former mode was never tested. It was powered by a
Westinghouse XJ81-WE-3
The Rolls-Royce RB.93 Soar, also given the Ministry of Supply designation RSr., was a small, expendable British axial-flow turbojet intended for cruise missile use and built by Rolls-Royce Limited in the 1950s and 1960s. Like all the company's ...
turbojet, allowing it to reach speeds of
Mach
Mach may refer to Mach number, the speed of sound in local conditions. It may also refer to:
Computing
* Mach (kernel), an operating systems kernel technology
* ATI Mach, a 2D GPU chip by ATI
* GNU Mach, the microkernel upon which GNU Hurd is bas ...
1.55. The drone's course was followed with
radar, and flight commands were sent by a
radio telemetry system. When the mission was completed the XQ-4 would deploy a three-stage
parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, who ...
system along with four large inflatable airbags to cushion the impact with the ground.
The Air Force planned to use the Q-4 as a target for various
surface-to-air and
air-to-air missiles. A secondary
reconnaissance function was planned, with TV or cameras carried. The drone was air-launched by a Lockheed DC-130 Hercules drone controller aircraft, or other carrier aircraft.
In 1963, the Q-4 family of drones were given the designation AQM-35A and AQM-35B. They were never considered entirely successful, with a variety of problems arising during both the development and flight testing phases. It was also considered that the flight performance of the drone was so high that it was not a realistic test for the missiles being developed––ironic since the whole point of the project was to develop a supersonic target. Only 25 of all types were ever built. The last examples of the type were retired during the 1960s.
Variants
;XQ-4:Prototype of the RP-61 supersonic target drone.
;Q-4:Production target drones.
;Q-4A:Developed to use a
Fairchild J83
The Fairchild J83 turbojet was developed starting in 1955 to power cruise missiles used as un-armed decoys for bomber aircraft. The engine's development was terminated in November 1958.
Design and development
In March 1953, the United States ...
engine and a modified radar signature for testing the
CIM-10 Bomarc missile. When the engine could not be developed in time the variant was cancelled.
;Q-4B: Fitted with a much more powerful
J85-GE-5 engine and a strengthened airframe. This variant was first flown in 1961.
;AQM-35A:Post 1962 designation of the Q-4 drone.
;AQM-35B:Post 1962 designation of the Q-4B
Specifications (Q-4/AQM-35A)
See also
References
Northrop (Radioplane) Q-4/AQM-35
{{DEFAULTSORT:AQM-35
Q-004
1950s United States special-purpose aircraft
Target drones of the United States
Single-engined jet aircraft
High-wing aircraft