SSM-N-6 Rigel - Misplaced Pages

(Redirected from Rigel missile) Cruise missile

SSM-N-6 Rigel
Type	Cruise missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	United States Navy
Production history
Manufacturer	Grumman
Specifications
Mass	23,800 pounds (10,800 kg) (with boosters) 13,000 pounds (5,900 kg) (w/o boosters)
Length	46 feet 1 inch (14.05 m)
Diameter	3.75 feet (1.14 m)
Wingspan	13 feet 4 inches (4.06 m)
Warhead	3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) such as the W5 warhead

Engine	2 × Marquardt 28 ramjet 6,000 lbf (27 kN) 4 × booster rockets 8,000 lbf (36 kN)
Operational range	500 nautical miles (926 km)
Maximum speed	Mach 2
Launch platform	submarine

The SSM-N-6 Rigel was a proposed United States Navy submarine-launched, nuclear-capable ramjet-powered cruise missile.

Etymology

The Rigel missile was named after Rigel, the brightest star in the constellation Orion.

Development

In 1946 the US Navy sanctioned development of the Rigel missile as a sub-launched supersonic weapon to attack enemy shores, in parallel with development of the subsonic SSM-N-8 Regulus. The SSM-N-6 was to be launched by means of 4 rocket boosters and a catapult, with two ramjets for the cruise mode of the flight.

Several Rigel test articles were built to test the planned ramjet system for the Rigel missile. They had a single ramjet and a single rocket booster. Subsequently, scaled-down Flight Test Vehicles (FTVs) were built with a configuration similar to the full-scale missile, and the first FTV launch occurred in May 1950. Unfortunately, plans to build the SSM-N-6 missiles were cancelled because the failure of FTV flight tests, but also due to the fact that Rigel posed a problem for submariners by requiring a longer launch rail on submarines than the SSM-N-8 Regulus.

Operators

United States

United States Navy (planned)

References

Yenne, Bill (2018). A Complete History of U.S. Cruise Missiles. Forest Lake, MN: Specialty Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-58007-256-4.
^ "Grumman SSM-N-6 Rigel". www.designation-systems.net.

v t e USN/USMC drone designations 1946–1962
Ryan	KDA
Beechcraft	KDB KD2B
Curtiss-Wright	KD2C KD3C
McDonnell	KDD
Globe	KDG KD2G KD3G KD4G KD5G KD6G
McDonnell	KDH
Martin	KDM
Naval Aircraft Factory	KDN KD2N
Radioplane	KDR KD2R KD3R KD4R
Temco	KDT
Vought	KDU KD2U
Culver	UC
Not assigned See also: Target drones

United States Navy missile designations 1947–1962

Air-launched missiles

Air-to-air missiles	AAM-N-2 Sparrow AAM-N-3 Sparrow AAM-N-4 Oriole AAM-N-5 Meteor AAM-N-6 Sparrow AAM-N-7 Sidewinder AAM-N-9 Sparrow AAM-N-10 Eagle AAM-N-11 Phoenix
Air-to-surface missiles	ASM-N-2 Bat ASM-N-4 ASM-N-5 Gorgon V ASM-N-6 Omar ASM-N-7 Bullpup ASM-N-8 Corvus ASM-N-10 Shrike ASM-N-11 Condor
Air-to-underwater missiles	AUM-N-2 Petrel AUM-N-4 Diver AUM-N-6 Puffin

Surface-launched missiles

Surface-to-air missiles	SAM-N-2 Lark SAM-N-4 Lark SAM-N-6 Talos SAM-N-7 Terrier SAM-N-8 (I) Zeus SAM-N-8 (II) Typhon SAM-N-9 Typhon
Surface-to-surface missiles	SSM-N-2 Triton XSSM-N-4 Taurus SSM-N-6 Rigel SSM-N-8 Regulus SSM-N-9 (I) Lacrosse SSM-N-9 (II) Regulus II
Surface-to-underwater missiles	SUM-N-2 Grebe

Test vehicles

Control	CTV-N-2 Gorgon IIC CTV-N-4 Gorgon IIA CTV-N-6 Gorgon III CTV-N-8 Bumblebee STV CTV-N-9 CTV-N-10
Launching	LTV-N-2 LTV-N-4
Propulsion	PTV-N-2 Gorgon IV PTV-N-4 Cobra
Research and general testing	RTV-N-2 RTV-N-4 RTV-N-6 Bumblebee XPM RTV-N-8 RTV-N-10 RTV-N-12 RTV-N-13 RTV-N-15 RTV-N-16

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Categories:

Etymology

Development

Operators

See also

References