HISTORY - Page 5
These Air Force announcements fostered a wave of activity on the part of the Army, especially with regard
to the 1,000-mile missile. To Army, depending on the use of the 120,000-pound thrust NAA engine, its
facilities appeared to be the logical site for development. It was felt that the REDSTONE could be upgraded
to a two-stage missile having a range of 1,000 miles or better. Besides, the guidance system was being
developed, and much of the hardware required for such a weapon had already been proven. Personnel and
facilities at Redstone Arsenal could admirably satisfy the requirement, and OCO proposed that these be
offered
6
.
The 1,500-Mile Missile
The thinking in terms of range did not stop with the idea of the 1,000-mile missile, for on 14 February 1955
the Technological Capabilities Panel, commonly known as the Killian Committee, recommended an
immediate program leading to the development of small artificial satellites and an IRBM of the 1,500-mile
range class to parallel ICBM development. Missiles of such range actively affected the concept of waging
warfare and, in this respect, the Army Deputy Chief, Research and Development (R&D), queried OCO as to
the possibility of a 1,000 to 1,500 mile missile. There were a number of matters to be considered. For
example, according to the R&D chief, airlifted assaults over great distances might characterize Army
operations, and the transport of such weapons as the REDSTONE and SERGEANT to airheads might pose a
serious logistic problem. Therefore, the launching of a long-range ballistic missile from a relatively rear
area might prove quite effective as well as economical. Before such a concept was adopted, however, there
______________________________
6. DA Pam 70-10, p. 118; House Rpt Nr 67, 87th Congress, 1st Session, subj: A Chronology of Missile and Astronautic Events, Washington, D.C., 1961; Emme, Eugene M., Aeronautics and Astronautics, NASA, 1961.
Jupiter SM-78 Weapon System
I&C Team 2, Çigli AB, Turkey 1961-1962 Chrysler Corporation Missile Division
These Air Force announcements fostered a wave of
activity on the part of the Army, especially with regard
to the 1,000-mile missile. To Army, depending on the
use of the 120,000-pound thrust NAA engine, its
facilities appeared to be the logical site for
development. It was felt that the REDSTONE could be
upgraded to a two-stage missile having a range of
1,000 miles or better. Besides, the guidance system
was being developed, and much of the hardware
required for such a weapon had already been proven.
Personnel and facilities at Redstone Arsenal could
admirably satisfy the requirement, and OCO proposed
that these be offered
6
.
The 1,500-Mile Missile
The thinking in terms of range did not stop with the
idea of the 1,000-mile missile, for on 14 February 1955
the Technological Capabilities Panel, commonly known
as the Killian Committee, recommended an immediate
program leading to the development of small artificial
satellites and an IRBM of the 1,500-mile range class to
parallel ICBM development. Missiles of such range
actively affected the concept of waging warfare and, in
this respect, the Army Deputy Chief, Research and
Development (R&D), queried OCO as to the possibility
of a 1,000 to 1,500 mile missile. There were a number
of matters to be considered. For example, according to
the R&D chief, airlifted assaults over great distances
might characterize Army operations, and the transport
of such weapons as the REDSTONE and SERGEANT to
airheads might pose a serious logistic problem.
Therefore, the launching of a long-range ballistic
missile from a relatively rear area might prove quite
effective as well as economical. Before such a concept
was adopted, however, there
______________________________
HISTORY - Page 5
6. DA Pam 70-10, p. 118; House Rpt Nr 67, 87th Congress, 1st Session, subj: A Chronology of Missile and Astronautic
Events, Washington, D.C., 1961; Emme, Eugene M., Aeronautics and Astronautics, NASA, 1961.
