AIR-2 Genie
The Douglas AIR -2A Genie (originally as Douglas MB - 1 Genie called ) was an unguided air - to-air missile of U.S. production, which was equipped with a nuclear warhead of the type W25 with an explosive force of 1.5 to 2 kilotons.
The missile was developed by a SR49 -TC -1 engine (manufactured by Thiokol ) driven, they accelerated to a speed of Mach 3. The range was only 9.5 km, which is fast turning maneuvers of the interceptor required after liftoff, the rocket to escape the destruction radius of the nuclear explosion. The Genie rocket was designed for use against enemy bomber formations. An attack on individual aircraft was practically not possible because the weapon was unguided.
The weapon was used on the aircraft Northrop F- 89J Scorpion, McDonnell F- 101B Voodoo and the Convair F- 106A Delta Dart.
On July 19, 1957, fired and fired over the Yucca Flats test site in Nevada as part of the " Plumbbob - John - experiment " a sharp genius rocket of a Northrop F- 89J in 4600 meters height, the first and only nuclear test a nuclear air - to-air missile was.
Several thousand copies of this weapon were produced in the late 1950s, until production ended in 1962. The genius was in use until 1982 and was retired as well as their carrier aircraft were decommissioned.
In addition to the AIR -2A also a training version was made without nuclear warhead, which was known as the ATR -2A " Ting- a-Ling ".
An improved version should be developed under the name " AIR -2B super genius", but this was not realized.
The rocket motor of genius also found in some high-altitude research rockets use. These were the Astrobee - 500 as well as the Ute and Payute missiles. Furthermore, were remodeled Genie missiles as ALARR (Air Launched - air recovered rocket ) used to explore the upper atmosphere.