High Virgo

The High Virgo, also known as Weapons System 199C (WS-199C), was a prototype air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) jointly developed by Lockheed and the Convair division of General Dynamics during the late 1950s. The missile proved moderately successful and aided in the development of the later GAM-87 Skybolt ALBM. It was also used in early tests of anti-satellite weapons.

Design and development

As part of the WS-199 project to develop new strategic weapons for the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command, the Lockheed Corporation and the Convair division of General Dynamics proposed the development of an air-launched ballistic missile, to be carried by the Convair B-58 Hustler supersonic medium bomber.Parsch 2005 In early 1958 the two companies were awarded a contract for development of the weapon, designated WS-199C and given the code-name "High Virgo". While the project was intended to be strictly a research-and-development exercise, it was planned that the weapon would be quickly capable of being developed into an operational system if required.Yengst 2010, p.37.

The High Virgo missile was a single-stage weapon, powered by a solid-fueled Thiokol TX-20 rocket, and was equipped with an advanced inertial guidance system derived from that of the AGM-28 Hound Dog cruise missile.McMurran 2008, p.266 Four tailfins in a cruciform arrangement provided directional control. The missile was developed by Lockheed, utilising components developed for several existing missiles to reduce the cost of the project, and also to reduce the development time required. Convair was responsible for development of a pylon for carriage and launching of the missile from the prototype B-58, the pylon replacing the aircraft's normal weapons pod.

Operational history

Four test flights of the High Virgo missile were conducted. Due to development problems, the first two did not include the inertial guidance system, instead they were fitted with a simple autopilot guiding the weapon on a pre-programmed course. Launched from its B-58 carrier aircraft at high altitude and supersonic speed, the initial flight, conducted on September 5, 1958, was a failure when the missile's controls malfunctioned. The second test, three months later, proved more successful, with the missile flying over a range of nearly . The third flight test, the following June, utilized the inertial guidance system for the first time. It was a successful flight.

Anti-satellite test

The fourth High Virgo missile was utilized in a test mission intended to demonstrate the capability of the missile for use as a "satellite interceptor", or anti-satellite missile (ASAT). The missile, modified with cameras to record the results of the test, was initially targeted at the Explorer 4 satellite. Due to errors in calculating the satellite's orbit Explorer 5 was targeted instead.

The ASAT test mission, the final flight of the High Virgo missile, was conducted on September 22, 1959. Less than a minute after the launch of the missile from its B-58 carrier aircraft at Mach 2,Temple 2004, p.111. the telemetry signal was lost.Yenne 2005, p.67. No data was recovered from the test, and the camera data, intended to be recovered afterward, was not located. Hence the test was inconclusive.

No further test firings of High Virgo were conducted, the research project having been concluded. The Air Force had begun work on what would become the GAM-87 Skybolt missile, which incorporated lessons learned from the WS-199 project.

Launch history

AMR DZ means Atlantic Missile Range Drop Zone.

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Air-launched ballistic missiles
Ballistic missiles of the United States
Anti-satellite missiles
Cold War air-to-surface missiles of the United States
Air-to-surface missiles of the United States