Northrop AQM-35

Northrop AQM-35. The Northrop AQM-35 was a high-speed, high-altitude target drone developed for the United States Air Force and United States Navy during the Cold War. Derived from the experimental Northrop X-4 Bantam, it was designed to simulate the flight profiles of advanced Soviet Union bombers and cruise missiles for air defense training. The drone saw extensive service for over four decades, providing a critical, realistic threat for testing and evaluating new surface-to-air missile and air-to-air missile systems.

Development and Design

The program originated from a late-1940s United States Air Force requirement for a high-performance target, leading to the adaptation of the tailless, semi-tailless design of the Northrop X-4 Bantam. Primary development was conducted by the Northrop Corporation at its facilities in Hawthorne, California, with the XJ81 turbojet engine, a variant of the British Armstrong Siddeley Viper, selected for power. The airframe featured a unique flying wing configuration without a horizontal stabilizer, which contributed to its high-speed performance and challenging radar cross-section. Key subcontractors included Sperry Corporation, which provided the sophisticated flight control system and autopilot, enabling pre-programmed flight paths and remote control from a Lockheed C-130 Hercules director aircraft.

Operational History

Entering service in 1961, the AQM-35 became a cornerstone of United States air defense training throughout the Cold War. It was primarily launched from a modified Boeing B-50 Superfortress or later from a Lockheed DC-130 Hercules, flying pre-set profiles to test systems like the IM-99 Bomarc, CIM-10 Bomarc, and F-106 Delta Dart aircraft armed with AIM-4 Falcon missiles. The drone operated extensively at major test ranges including the White Sands Missile Range, the Pacific Missile Range Facility, and the Eglin Air Force Base complex over the Gulf of Mexico. Its ability to fly at altitudes above 50,000 feet and at speeds exceeding Mach 0.9 made it a vital surrogate for threats like the Tupolev Tu-22 and early cruise missile designs, remaining in the inventory long after its intended replacement, the BQM-34 Firebee, entered service.

Variants

* **KD2B-1**: Initial United States Navy designation for early evaluation models. * **XQ-4**: Original United States Air Force designation for the prototype and test vehicles. * **Q-4A**: Initial production version for the United States Air Force. * **AQM-35A**: Final standardized designation for the primary production target variant, encompassing both Air Force and Navy drones. * **AQM-35B**: Proposed but unbuilt reconnaissance variant. * **AQM-35C**: Proposed but unbuilt electronic warfare variant intended for Wild Weasel suppression of enemy air defenses training. * **AQM-35D**: A single modified drone used for testing the AN/ALQ-117 electronic countermeasures system.

Specifications (AQM-35A)

* **Crew**: None * **Length**: 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m) * **Wingspan**: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) * **Height**: 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m) * **Empty weight**: 2,800 lb (1,270 kg) * **Powerplant**: 1 × Continental J69-T-29 turbojet (license-built Teledyne CAE XJ81), 1,920 lbf (8.5 kN) thrust * **Maximum speed**: 600 mph (970 km/h, Mach 0.91) * **Service ceiling**: 55,000 ft (16,800 m) * **Range**: 500 mi (800 km)

Operators

The primary operator was the United States Air Force, which used the drone for training Aerospace Defense Command interceptor crews and for missile evaluation at the Air Force Systems Command test centers. The United States Navy also operated a smaller number of drones, primarily for fleet air defense training with units like Fighter Squadron 101 and for tests at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. A limited number were supplied to NATO allies under the Mutual Defense Assistance Act, including the Royal Air Force and the Italian Air Force, for use in joint training exercises.

Category:United States target drones Category:Northrop aircraft Category:Cold War target drones of the United States