The Westinghouse AN/GPA-35 Ground Environment (GPA-35 colloq.) was a United States Air Force surface-to-air missile weapons direction system. It was used for launch and steering during CIM-10 Bomarc tests during the Cold War.[1] The command guidance system manufactured by Westinghouse Electric Corporation used Bendix AN/FPS-20 Radar data to track the missile.[2][3] Lincoln Laboratory Division 6 had an AN/GPA-35 Study Group for integrating the AN/GPA-35 into the SAGE System.[4] Notable launches with GPA-35 guidance included:[3]
- 1956 October — Six launches were used to test the AN/GPA-35 capability to command BOMARC intercept of QB-17 drones.
- 1957 October — A BOMARC test with "live high-explosive warhead" failed when the GPA-35 commanded "faulty mid-course guidance".
- 1958 May 1 - The "GPA-35 could not control the missile beyond 130 miles."
- 1958 August 7 - A GPA-35 took control of an airborne BOMARC from the Experimental SAGE Sector, and the missile malfunctioned and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
- 1959 March 6 - A straying BOMARC was self-destructed near the western boundary of the Eglin Gulf Test Range after a GPA-35 had transmitted the wrong commands.
- 1959 April 13 — The GPA-35 lost control of the missile 100 seconds after launch.[5]
- 1959 April 24 — GPA-35 control was used for simultaneous guidance of two BOMARCS.[5]
References
edit- ^ "SAGE System Meeting" (PDF). 1956-04-23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-29.
- ^ Rice 2017.
- ^ a b McMullen 1980.
- ^ "Biweekly Report For Period Ending 18 May 1956" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-26.
- ^ a b McMullen 1980, p. 320.
- McMullen, R. F. (15 February 1980). History of Air Defense Weapons 1946–1962 (Report). Vol. ADC Historical Study No. 14. Historical Division, Office of information, HQ ADC.
- Rice, Helen (2017). History of Ogden Air Material Area… 1934 - 1960 (Scribd image) (Report). p. 204. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
On 17 May 1957 the Boeing Airplane Co., the prime contractor, received its initial contract for a plus [sic] $135 million to produce IM-99 Bomarcs. …Boeing subcontracted to…Westinghouse Electric for the AN/GPA-35, ground-to-air guidance system used on the Bomarc until SAGE was fully operational
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