Northrop AQM-35: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Supersonic drone}}

{|{{Infobox aircraft begin

|name = Q-4 / AQM-35

|image = File:Northrop XQ-4 in flight.jpg

|caption = XQ-4

|alt =

}}{{Infobox aircraft type

|type = [[Target drone]]

|national origin = [[United States]]

|manufacturer = [[Northrop Corporation]]

|builder =

|designer =

|first flight = January 1956

|introduced =

|introdction =

|retired = mid 1960s

|status =

|primary user = [[United States Air Force]]

|more users =

|produced =

|number built = 25

|program cost =

|unit cost =

|developed from =

|variants with their own articles =

|developed into =

}}

|}

The '''AQM-35''' was a [[supersonic]] target [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drone]] produced by the [[Northrop Corporation]].

The AQM-35 program began life in 1953 as the Model RP-61 supersonic target drone. In June 1954 the [[United States Air Force]] awarded Northrop a contract for development of the project as the Q-4; the first flight-capable XQ-4 was launched in 1956.

The XQ-4 was capable of either ground or air launch, though the former mode was never tested. It was powered by a [[Rolls-Royce Soar|Westinghouse XJ81-WE-3]] [[turbojet]], allowing it to reach speeds of [[Mach number|Mach]] 1.55. The drone's course was followed with [[radar]], and flight commands were sent by a [[radio]] [[telemetry]] system. When the mission was completed the XQ-4 would deploy a three-stage [[parachute]] system along with four large inflatable airbags to cushion the impact with the ground.

The Air Force planned to use the Q-4 as a target for various [[Surface-to-air missile|surface-to-air]] and [[Air-to-air missile|air-to-air]] missiles. A secondary [[reconnaissance]] function was planned, with TV or cameras carried. The drone was air-launched by a [[Lockheed DC-130|Lockheed DC-130 Hercules]] drone controller aircraft, or other carrier aircraft.

In 1963, the Q-4 family of drones were given the designation AQM-35A and AQM-35B. They were never considered entirely successful, with a variety of problems arising during both the development and flight testing phases. It was also considered that the flight performance of the drone was so high that it was not a realistic test for the missiles being developed––ironic since the whole point of the project was to develop a supersonic target. Only 25 of all types were ever built. The last examples of the type were retired during the 1960s.

[[Image:Twuav 01 05.png|right]]

;XQ-4:Prototype of the RP-61 supersonic target drone.

;Q-4:Production target drones.

;Q-4A:Developed to use a [[Fairchild J83]] engine and a modified radar signature for testing the [[CIM-10 Bomarc]] missile. When the engine could not be developed in time the variant was cancelled.

;Q-4B: Fitted with a much more powerful [[General Electric J85|J85-GE-5]] engine and a strengthened airframe. This variant was first flown in 1961.

;AQM-35A:Post 1962 designation of the Q-4 drone.

;AQM-35B:Post 1962 designation of the Q-4B

==Specifications (Q-4/AQM-35A)==

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=

|prime units?=kts

<!--

General characteristics

-->

|length m=10.06

|length note=<br/>

::::'''Q-4B/AQM-35B:''' {{convert|35.333|ft|m|abbr=on|2}}

|span m=3.38

|span note=<br/>

::::'''Q-4B/AQM-35B:''' {{convert| 12.666|ft|m|abbr=on|2}}

|height m=1.69

|height note=<br/>

::::'''Q-4B/AQM-35B:''' {{convert| 6.167|ft|m|abbr=on|2}}

|dia m=0.51

|empty weight lb=1,980

|empty weight note=<br/>

::::'''Q-4B/AQM-35B:''' {{convert| 3,400|lb|kg|abbr=on|0}}

<!--

Powerplant

-->

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=[[Westinghouse XJ81-WE-3]]

|eng1 type=Lightweight expendable turbojet

|eng1 lbf=1,810

|eng1 note=<br/>

::::'''Q-4B/AQM-35B:''' 1x [[General Electric J85-GE-5]] turbojet, {{convert| 3,850|lbf|kN|abbr=on|0}} thrust

<!--

Performance

-->

|more performance=<br/>

*'''Maximum speed''': M1.55

::::'''Q-4B/AQM-35B:''' M2.0

|ceiling ft=60,000

|ceiling note=<br/>

::::'''Q-4B/AQM-35B:''' {{convert|70,000|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}

}}

{{aircontent|

|related=

|similar aircraft=

|lists=

|see also=

}}

==References==

{{commonscat}}

{{reflist}}

* [http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-35.html Northrop (Radioplane) Q-4/AQM-35]

{{Northrop aircraft}}

{{US missiles}}

{{US unmanned aircraft}}

{{USAF system codes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:AQM-35}}

[[Category:Northrop aircraft|Q-004]]

[[Category:1950s United States special-purpose aircraft]]

[[Category:Target drones of the United States]]

[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]]

[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]