Navaho X-10 (original) (raw)


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Navaho X-10


Part of Navaho



Navaho

Navaho
Navaho versions compared with Soviet Mach 3 cruise missiles
Credit: © Mark Wade


American intermediate range cruise missile. Reusable, conventional airfield takeoff-and-landing aerodynamic test vehicle for Navaho missile.

AKA: RTV-A-5;X-10. Status: Retired 1959. First Launch: 1953-10-14. Last Launch: 1959-01-26. Number: 30 . Payload: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Thrust: 97.00 kN (21,806 lbf). Gross mass: 19,183 kg (42,291 lb). Height: 20.17 m (66.17 ft). Diameter: 1.71 m (5.61 ft). Span: 8.59 m (28.18 ft). Apogee: 15 km (9 mi).

In May 1950 North American began design of an aerodynamic test vehicle for the planned intercontinental version of its Navaho Mach 3 cruise missile. This would be of the same dimensions and aerodynamic shape as the cruise stage of the production missile, but powered by existing turbojets, and capable of takeoff and landing from a runway, allowing reuse. Phase 1 of the revised development program would use this drone to test the aerodynamics, structural concepts, autopilot, and inertial navigation systems in an aluminum structure that could achieve speeds of up to Mach 2. 1.

Although a test vehicle, the X-10 was designed for use as an intermediate-range supersonic cruise missile should the Air Force desire to put it into production. A forward fuel tank in the fuselage was unused in the test vehicle; and a warhead compartment was used for the PIX10 autopilot, telemetry system, cooling system, and nose landing gear. A weaponized version would have deleted the landing gear and systems, and been capable of carrying a 3150 kg nuclear warhead over a range of 2000 km.

The Navaho, with its delta wings cropped at the Mach angle, variable inlets, and forward canards to control pitch moment in the transonic region, was an incredibly futuristic design when it was first conceived in 1947. Its aluminum body was designed to maintain its strength during sustained Mach 2 cruise would heat it to 240 deg C. Systems were cooled by running hydraulic fluid around them, which in turn passed through the main fuel tank, which acted as a large heat sink.

The X-10 was in advance of anything else conceived in 1947, and anything else even flying in the 1950's. There was nothing else powered by turbojet engines that could beat it in thrust/weight, aerodynamics, speed, or altitude during its flight test period. However, since it was unmanned, and highly classified, it obtained no official records.

The most troublesome aspect of the X-10 were the 'supplemental' systems that were designed to make it recoverable and reusable. The drag chute just could not be made to work, and time and again the ground barrier systems failed. In retrospect, trying to make the vehicle reusable and recoverable may have been a big mistake. The 13 vehicles built made 30 flights, but many of those were wasted just working out the autoland system, and only one vehicle survived the test program. An expendable vehicle, or one with a jettisonable data capsule, could have achieved the test objectives, faster, using the same number of air vehicles. Perhaps for this reason, the Air Force decided to abandon recovery of many of the next-generation test Navahos.

Following 15 flights at Edwards, X-10 flight test was moved to Cape Canaveral. A further 12 developmental flights were made here. The last X-10 at the Cape was used as a target drone for Bomarc surface-to-air missile tests until it was lost. The surviving X-10, the first built, is preserved at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

Development Cost :679.800millionin1985dollars.FlyawayUnitCost1985: 679.800 million in 1985 dollars. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985:679.800millionin1985dollars.FlyawayUnitCost1985: 10.000 million in 1956 dollars. Maximum range: 1,370 km (850 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead: W13. Boost Propulsion: Turbojet. Maximum speed: 2,350 kph (1,460 mph). Total Number Built: 13.

Stage Data - Navaho X-10


More at: Navaho X-10.


Family: IRCM, US Cruise Missiles. Country: USA. Engines: XJ40-WE-1. Launch Vehicles: Navaho. Launch Sites: Edwards, Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral RW30/12. Stages: Navaho X-10 stage. Agency: North American.


Photo Gallery



Navaho development Navaho developmentNavaho development sequenceCredit: © Mark Wade


Navaho vs Burya Navaho vs BuryaCredit: © Mark Wade



1950 May - . LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1950 December - . LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1951 June - . LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1951 September - . LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1952 December - . LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1953 May - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1953 September 3 - . LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1953 October 14 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1953 December 5 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1953 December 15 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1954 April 1 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1954 May 4 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1954 June 4 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1954 July 1 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1954 August 12 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1954 September 3 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1954 September 28 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1954 December 1 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1954 December 16 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1955 February 22 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1955 March 11 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1955 March 24 - . Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1955 August 19 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1955 October 24 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 February 3 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 February 29 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 March 20 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 April 24 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 June 5 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 July 18 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 August 27 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 September 21 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 October 24 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1956 November 20 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1958 September 24 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1958 November 13 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.


1959 January 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.



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