Aerojet SD-2 Overseer
| SD-2 Overseer | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Reconnassiance drone |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Aerojet General |
| First flight | c.1959 |
| Retired | late 1960s |
| Primary user | United States Army |
| Number built | 35 |
The Aerojet SD-2 Overseer was an unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Aerojet General and Rheem Manufacturing Co.[1] in the late 1950s for use by the United States Army. Built in limited numbers, it never saw operational service.
Design and development
[edit]Development of the SD-2 drone began in 1957 by the Rheem Manufacturing Company, and the project continued through the company's acquisition by Aerojet General in 1959.[2] Developed as part of the AN/USD-2 surveillance system, the SD-2 was designed for truck launch using two solid rocket boosters; following launch, a piston engine provided propulsion. At the end of its mission, the drone would be recovered via parachute.[2] Control was provided by a translateration system for navigation (similar to the much later differential GPS technology), which allowed the aircraft to steer on a pre-programmed course.[3]
The SD-2 was designed to use a modular sensor system, allowing equipment to be switched between missions according to requirements. Available payloads included cameras for either recovered or real-time photography, AN/AAD-2 infrared sensor, AN/DPD-2 side looking airborne radar, or equipment for the dispensing of biological or chemical warfare agents from tanks mounted under the wings of the aircraft.[3]
Operational history
[edit]Thirty-five production SD-2s were produced. Poor results from the navigation system resulted in the system's cancellation in 1966, and the program was terminated without any Overseers having seen operational service.[3] In 1963, the SD-2 was given the designation MQM-58A under the revised designation system.[2]
Specifications
[edit]Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: None
- Length: 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m)
- Wingspan: 13 ft 4 in (4.06 m)
- Height: 3 ft 7 in (1.09 m)
- Wing area: 27.8 sq ft (2.58 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 6.4
- Gross weight: 992 lb (450 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,124 lb (510 kg) without boosters; 1,334 lb (605 kg) including boosters
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming LIO-360-B1B horizontally opposed piston engine, 225 hp (168 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 345 mph (556 km/h, 300 kn)
- Combat range: 115 mi (185 km, 100 nmi)
- Endurance: 45 minutes
- Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Avionics
- 234 lb (106 kg) equipment capacity.
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Lists
[edit]List of military electronics of the United States
References
[edit]- Citations
- 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.
- Parsch, Andreas (2002). "Aerojet General SD-2/MQM-58 Overseer". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
- Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1965). Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1965-1966. London: Sampson Low,. Marston & Company Ltd.