High Virgo
Encyclopedia
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; in addition, it was used in early test of anti-satellite weapons.
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
. 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.
The High Virgo missile was a single-stage weapon, powered by a solid-fueled Thiokol
TX-20 rocket, and was equipped an advanced inertial guidance system derived from that of the AGM-28 Hound Dog
cruise missile
. Four tailfins in a cruciform
arrangement provided directional control
. The missile was developed by Lockheed, utilising components developed for several existing missiles in order to reduce the cost of the project, and also to reduce the development time required, while 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.
satellite, but 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, the telemetry
signal was lost. No data was recovered from the test, and the camera data, intended to be recovered afterward, was not located; therefore the test was inconclusive.
No further test firings of High Virgo were conducted, the research project having been concluded. However the Air Force was already undertaking work on what would become the GAM-87 Skybolt missile, which incorporated lessons learned from the WS-199 project in its construction.
Air-launched ballistic missile
An air-launched ballistic missile or ALBM is a ballistic missile launched from an aircraft. This class of missile never saw active use. The only known missile of this type that was intended for operational service, the GAM-87 Skybolt, intended to be launched from B-52 Stratofortress and Avro...
(ALBM) jointly developed by Lockheed and the Convair
Convair
Convair was an American aircraft manufacturing company which later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Vultee Aircraft and Consolidated Aircraft, and went on to produce a number of pioneering aircraft, such as the Convair B-36 bomber, and the F-102...
division of General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
during the late 1950s. The missile proved moderately successful and aided in the development of the later GAM-87 Skybolt ALBM; in addition, it was used in early test of anti-satellite weapons.
Design and development
As part of the WS-199WS-199
Weapons System 199 was a weapons development program conducted by the United States Air Force to research and develop new strategic weapons systems for Strategic Air Command...
project to develop new strategic weapons for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, 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
Medium bomber
A medium bomber is a bomber aircraft designed to operate with medium bombloads over medium distances; the name serves to distinguish them from the larger heavy bombers and smaller light bombers...
. 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.
The High Virgo missile was a single-stage weapon, powered by a solid-fueled Thiokol
Thiokol
Thiokol is a U.S. corporation concerned initially with rubber and related chemicals, and later with rocket and missile propulsion systems...
TX-20 rocket, and was equipped an advanced inertial guidance system derived from that of the AGM-28 Hound Dog
AGM-28 Hound Dog
The North American Aviation Corporation AGM-28 Hound Dog was a supersonic, jet propelled, air-launched cruise missile. The Hound Dog missile was first given the designation B-77, then redesignated the GAM-77, and finally designated the AGM-28, permanently...
cruise missile
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
. Four tailfins in a cruciform
Cruciform tail
The cruciform tail is an aircraft empennage configuration which, when viewed from the aircraft's front or rear, looks much like a cross. The usual arrangement is to have the horizontal stabilizer intersect the vertical tail somewhere near the middle, and above the top of the fuselage.Often this...
arrangement provided directional control
Missile guidance
Missile guidance refers to a variety of methods of guiding a missile or a guided bomb to its intended target. The missile's target accuracy is a critical factor for its effectiveness...
. The missile was developed by Lockheed, utilising components developed for several existing missiles in order to reduce the cost of the project, and also to reduce the development time required, while 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 being 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 200 miles (321.9 km). The third flight test, the following June, utilized the inertial guidance system for the first time; it, too, 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 4Explorer 4
Explorer 4 was a US satellite launched on July 26, 1958. It was instrumented by Dr. James van Allen's group. The Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency had initially planned two satellites for the purposes of studying the Van Allen radiation belts and the effects of nuclear...
satellite, but due to errors in calculating the satellite's orbit Explorer 5
Explorer 5
Explorer 5 was a United States satellite with a weight of 17.24 kg.It launched atop a Jupiter-C rocket on August 24, 1958 from Launch Complex 5, but failed when the rocket's booster collided with its second stage after separation, causing the upper stage firing angle to be off.- References :...
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, the telemetry
Telemetry
Telemetry is a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, usually via radio wave transmission and reception of the information. The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure...
signal was lost. No data was recovered from the test, and the camera data, intended to be recovered afterward, was not located; therefore the test was inconclusive.
No further test firings of High Virgo were conducted, the research project having been concluded. However the Air Force was already undertaking work on what would become the GAM-87 Skybolt missile, which incorporated lessons learned from the WS-199 project in its construction.
Launch history
| Date/Time (GMT) | Launch site | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958-09-05 | AMR DZ | Failure | Apogee 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) |
| 1958-12-19 | AMR DZ | Success | Apogee 76 kilometres (47.2 mi) |
| 1959-06-04 | AMR DZ | Success | Apogee 51 kilometres (31.7 mi) |
| 1959-09-22 | AMR DZ | Inconclusive | Apogee 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) |