The Fairchild SD-5 Osprey was an early high-speed reconnaissance drone developed by Fairchild Aircraft for the United States Army. Intended for use by the U.S. Army Signal Corps to gather _targeting information for tactical ballistic missiles, it was cancelled before the first prototype could be completed, and did not see operational service.
| SD-5 Osprey | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Reconnaissance drone |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Fairchild Aircraft |
| Primary user | United States Army |
| Number built | 15 |
| Developed from | Fairchild SM-73 Bull Goose |
Design and development
editIn 1960 the U.S. Army issued a requirement for the development of a high-speed, long-range reconnaissance drone to provide _targeting information to the Army's tactical ballistic missile force; contracts for competing designs were awarded to Republic Aviation, which proposed an all-new design given the designation SD-4 Swallow, and Fairchild Aircraft, which developed a variant of the Bull Goose decoy missile as the SD-5 Osprey.[1]
Given the full designation AN/USD-5 for its overall system,[2] the SD-5 was of tailless delta configuration,[3] with power provided by a Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojet (the military version of the civilian JT12 engine);[4] a single rocket booster of the jet-assisted takeoff type, giving 40,000 lbf (180 kN) thrust for 3 seconds, allowed for zero length launch from a specially-designed trailer. Recovery following the mission was by parachute, with airbags used to cushion the landing; sensors including infrared scanners, side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) and optical mapping were available for use, and could be recovered following the mission, or transmitted during the mission via telemetry.[2] Guidance during the mission was provided by an inertial navigation system and autopilot.[1]
Operational history
editThe first flight of the SD-5 took place in May 1960;[2] fifteen prototypes were constructed for the test program, with Fairchild quoting a cost per drone of $350,000-$400,000 USD for production aircraft.[5] An operational date of 1964 was anticipated; however, due to the cost of the program, the SD-5 was cancelled in November 1962 before entering service.[2]
Specifications
editData from Parsch 2004[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: None
- Length: 36 ft 8 in (11.18 m)
- Wingspan: 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m)
- Height: 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Gross weight: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojet, 3,000 lbf (13 kN) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.7
- Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km, 870 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
See also
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- Joint Electronics Type Designation System – Unclassified designation system for United States military electronic equipment
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
editCitations
Bibliography
- Newcome, Lawrence R. (2004). Unmanned Aviation: A Brief History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Reston, Virginia: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN 978-1-56347-644-0.
- Ordway, Frederick Ira; Ronald C. Wakeford (1960). International Missile and Spacecraft Guide. New York: McGraw-Hill. ASIN B000MAEGVC.
- Parsch, Andreas (5 May 2004). "Republic SD-4 Swallow". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles. Designation-Systems. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
- Stanfield, Robert I. (March 1961). "America's First Corporate Jet". Flying. Vol. 68, no. 3. New York: Ziff-Davis Publishing. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
- Taylor, John W.R. (1960). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1959–1960. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. ASIN B002G60XF8.
External links
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- 1961 National Archives newsreel on the Unmanned Airborne Surveillance System, AN/USD-5