WS-199
Encyclopedia
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
. Two air-launched and one ground-launched vehicles were developed as part of the program; while none entered production, they assisted in the development of both the GAM-87 Skybolt air-launched ballistic missile
and that of re-entry vehicles for ballistic missiles.
approval in 1957, the WS-199 project would award contracts to three different companies to develop experimental designs for new, hypersonic
weapons. Although none of the weapons were planned to be operational, in an emergency they could be quickly developed for combat service.
missile was an air-launched ballistic missile
, launched from the B-47 Stratojet
medium bomber, with flight tests being carried out in 1958 and 1959. Early launches of the Bold Orion as a single-stage vehicle were unsuccessful, however a redesign as a two-stage weapon produced improved results, with the remainder of the 12-launch series establishing the ALBM as a viable vehicle. The final test flight trialed the Bold Orion missile as an anti-satellite missile, passing within 4 miles (6.4 km) of Explorer VI, the first-ever interception of a satellite.
missile was developed as a single-stage air-launched ballistic missile, launched from the B-58 Hustler
supersonic bomber. Four test flights were conducted during 1958 and 1959, of which two were successful; the final launch of the program tested the missile in the anti-satellite role, but suffered telemetry failure. The results of the Bold Orion and High Virgo tests assisted in the development of the WS-138 specification, which became the GAM-87 Skybolt ALBM.
, the Alpha Draco
missile was an experimental, ground-launched, two-stage missile that conducted research on re-entry vehicles and the boost-glide principle of reentry. Three launches of the vehicle were conducted during 1959, of which two were successful.
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...
to research and develop new strategic weapons systems for 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...
. Two air-launched and one ground-launched vehicles were developed as part of the program; while none entered production, they assisted in the development of both the GAM-87 Skybolt air-launched ballistic missile
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...
and that of re-entry vehicles for ballistic missiles.
WS-199A
The designation WS-199A was applied to Strategic Air Command's overall studies of future requirements, that were tested using the hardware developed under the other WS-199 subprojects. Receiving CongressionalUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
approval in 1957, the WS-199 project would award contracts to three different companies to develop experimental designs for new, hypersonic
Hypersonic
In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that is highly supersonic. Since the 1970s, the term has generally been assumed to refer to speeds of Mach 5 and above...
weapons. Although none of the weapons were planned to be operational, in an emergency they could be quickly developed for combat service.
WS-199B Bold Orion
Developed by Martin Aircraft, the Bold OrionBold Orion
The Bold Orion missile, also known as Weapons System 199B , was a prototype air-launched ballistic missile developed by Martin Aircraft during the 1950s. Developed in both one- and two-stage designs, the missile was moderately successful in testing, and helped pave the way for development of the...
missile was an air-launched ballistic missile
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...
, launched from the B-47 Stratojet
B-47 Stratojet
The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
medium bomber, with flight tests being carried out in 1958 and 1959. Early launches of the Bold Orion as a single-stage vehicle were unsuccessful, however a redesign as a two-stage weapon produced improved results, with the remainder of the 12-launch series establishing the ALBM as a viable vehicle. The final test flight trialed the Bold Orion missile as an anti-satellite missile, passing within 4 miles (6.4 km) of Explorer VI, the first-ever interception of a satellite.
WS-199C High Virgo
Developed by Lockheed Aircraft, the High VirgoHigh Virgo
High Virgo, also known as Weapons System 199C , was a prototype air-launched ballistic missile jointly developed by Lockheed and the Convair division of General Dynamics during the late 1950s...
missile was developed as a single-stage air-launched ballistic missile, launched from the B-58 Hustler
B-58 Hustler
The Convair B-58 Hustler was the first operational supersonic jet bomber capable of Mach 2 flight. The aircraft was designed by Convair engineer Robert H. Widmer and developed for the United States Air Force for service in the Strategic Air Command during the 1960s...
supersonic bomber. Four test flights were conducted during 1958 and 1959, of which two were successful; the final launch of the program tested the missile in the anti-satellite role, but suffered telemetry failure. The results of the Bold Orion and High Virgo tests assisted in the development of the WS-138 specification, which became the GAM-87 Skybolt ALBM.
WS-199D Alpha Draco
Developed by McDonnell AircraftMcDonnell Aircraft
The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded on July 16, 1939 by James Smith McDonnell, and was best known for its military fighters, including the F-4 Phantom II, and manned spacecraft including the Mercury capsule...
, the Alpha Draco
Alpha Draco
The Alpha Draco missile, also known as Weapons System 199D , was an experimental missile developed by McDonnell Aircraft in the late 1950s to investigate boost-glide reentry...
missile was an experimental, ground-launched, two-stage missile that conducted research on re-entry vehicles and the boost-glide principle of reentry. Three launches of the vehicle were conducted during 1959, of which two were successful.