The US monopoly on nuclear weapons ended on August 29, 1949 after a successful test of a stationary nuclear explosive device at a test site in the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan. Simultaneously with the preparation for testing, there was a development and assembly of samples suitable for practical use.
In the United States, it was believed that the Soviet Union would not have atomic weapons until at least the mid-50s. However, already in 1950, the USSR had nine, and at the end of 1951, 29 RDS-1 atomic bombs. On October 18, 1951, the first Soviet aeronautical atomic bomb RDS-3 was first tested by dropping it from a Tu-4 bomber.
The long-range Tu-4 bomber, created on the basis of the American B-29 bomber, was capable of striking US forward bases in Western Europe, including England. But its combat radius was not enough to strike at the territory of the United States and return back.
Nevertheless, the military-political leadership of the United States was aware that the appearance of intercontinental bombers in the USSR was only a matter of the near future. These expectations were soon fully justified. At the beginning of 1955, the combat units of the Long-Range Aviation began operating the M-4 bombers (chief designer V. M. Myasishchev), followed by the improved 3M and Tu-95 (A. N. Tupolev Design Bureau).
Soviet long-range bomber M-4
The backbone of the air defense of the continental United States in the early 50s was made up of jet interceptors. For the air defense of the entire vast territory of North America in 1951, there were about 900 fighters adapted to intercept Soviet strategic bombers. In addition to them, it was decided to develop and deploy anti-aircraft missile systems.
But on this issue, the opinions of the military were divided. Representatives of the ground forces defended the concept of object protection based on the medium and long-range air defense systems Nike-Ajax and Nike-Hercules. This concept assumed that the objects of air defense: cities, military bases, industry, should each be covered with their own batteries of anti-aircraft missiles, linked into a common control system. The same concept of building air defense was adopted in the USSR.
The first American mass medium-range air defense system MIM-3 "Nike-Ajax"
Representatives of the Air Force, on the contrary, insisted that "on-site air defense" in the age of atomic weapons was not reliable, and suggested an ultra-long-range air defense system capable of carrying out "territorial defense" - preventing enemy aircraft from even close to defended objects. Given the size of the United States, such a task was perceived as extremely important.
The economic assessment of the project proposed by the Air Force showed that it is more expedient and will come out about 2.5 times cheaper with the same probability of defeat. At the same time, fewer personnel were required, and a large territory was defended. Nevertheless, Congress, wanting to get the most powerful air defense, approved both options.
The uniqueness of the Bomark air defense system was that from the very beginning it was developed as a direct element of the NORAD system. The complex did not have its own radar or control systems.
Initially, it was assumed that the complex should be integrated with the existing early detection radars, which were part of NORAD, and the SAGE system (eng. Semi Automatic Ground Environment) - a system for semi-automatic coordination of interceptor actions by programming their autopilots by radio with computers on the ground. Which took the interceptors to the approaching enemy bombers. The SAGE system, which worked according to NORAD radar data, provided the interceptor to the target area without the participation of the pilot. Thus, the Air Force needed to develop only a missile integrated into the already existing interceptor guidance system.
The CIM-10 Bomark has been designed from the outset as an integral part of this system. It was assumed that the rocket immediately after launch and climb will turn on the autopilot and go to the target area, automatically coordinating the flight using the SAGE control system. Homing only worked when approaching the target.
Scheme of using the CIM-10 Bomark air defense system
In fact, the new air defense system was an unmanned interceptor, and for it, at the first stage of development, reusable use was envisaged. The unmanned vehicle was supposed to use air-to-air missiles against the attacked aircraft, and then make a soft landing using a parachute rescue system. However, due to the excessive complexity of this option and the delay in the development and testing process, it was abandoned.
As a result, the developers decided to build a disposable interceptor, equipping it with a powerful fragmentation or nuclear warhead with a capacity of about 10 kt. According to calculations, this was enough to destroy an aircraft or a cruise missile when an interceptor missile missed 1000 m. Later, to increase the probability of hitting a target, other types of nuclear warheads with a capacity of 0.1-0.5 Mt were used.
By design, the Bomark missile defense system was a projectile (cruise missile) aircraft of a normal aerodynamic configuration, with the placement of steering surfaces in the tail section. Swivel wings have a sweep of the leading edge of 50 degrees. They do not turn entirely, but have triangular ailerons at the ends - each console is about 1 m, which provide flight control along the course, pitch and roll.
The launch was carried out vertically, using a liquid launch accelerator, which accelerated the rocket to a speed of M = 2. The launching accelerator for the rocket of modification "A" was a liquid-propellant rocket engine operating on kerosene with the addition of asymmetric dimethylhydrazine and nitric acid. This engine, which worked for about 45 seconds, accelerated the rocket to a speed at which the ramjet was turned on at an altitude of about 10 km, after which two of its own ramjet engines Marquardt RJ43-MA-3, running on 80 octane gasoline, began to operate.
After launching, the missile defense system flies vertically to the cruising altitude, then turns to the target. By this time, the tracking radar detects it and switches to auto-tracking using the on-board radio responder. The second, horizontal section of the flight takes place at cruising altitude in the target area. The SAGE air defense system processed the radar data and transmitted it via cables (laid underground) to relay stations, near which the rocket was flying at that moment. Depending on the maneuvers of the target being fired, the flight path of the missile defense system in this area may change. The autopilot received data on changes in the enemy's course, and coordinated its course in accordance with this. When approaching the target, on command from the ground, the seeker was turned on, operating in a pulsed mode (in the three-centimeter frequency range).
Initially, the complex received the designation XF-99, then IM-99 and only then CIM-10A. Flight tests of anti-aircraft missiles began in 1952. The complex entered service in 1957. The missiles were serially produced by Boeing from 1957 to 1961. A total of 269 missiles of modification "A" and 301 of modification "B" were manufactured. Most of the deployed missiles were equipped with nuclear warheads.
The missiles were fired from reinforced concrete block shelters located in well-defended bases, each of which was equipped with a large number of installations. There were several types of launch hangars for the Bomark missiles: with a sliding roof, with sliding walls, etc.
In the first version, the block reinforced concrete shelter (length 18, 3, width 12, 8, height 3, 9 m) for the launcher consisted of two parts: the launch compartment, in which the launcher itself is mounted, and a compartment with a number of rooms, where the control devices and equipment for controlling the launch of missiles.
To bring the launcher into a firing position, the roof flaps are moved apart by hydraulic drives (two shields 0.56 m thick and weighing 15 tons each). The rocket is lifted from a horizontal to a vertical position by an arrow. For these operations, as well as for turning on the on-board missile defense equipment, it takes up to 2 minutes.
The SAM base consists of an assembly and repair shop, launchers proper and a compressor station. The assembly and repair shop assembles missiles that arrive at the base disassembled in separate transport containers. In the same workshop, the necessary repairs and maintenance of missiles are carried out.
The original plan for the deployment of the system, adopted in 1955, called for the deployment of 52 missile bases with 160 missiles each. This was to completely cover the territory of the United States from any type of air attack.
By 1960, only 10 positions were deployed - 8 in the United States and 2 in Canada. The deployment of launchers in Canada is associated with the desire of the American military to move the line of interception as far as possible from its borders. This was especially important in connection with the use of nuclear warheads on the Bomark missile defense system. The first Beaumark Squadron was deployed to Canada on December 31, 1963. The missiles remained in the arsenal of the Canadian Air Force, although they were considered the property of the United States and were on alert under the supervision of American officers.
Layout of the positions of the Bomark air defense missile system on the territory of the USA and Canada
The bases of the Bomark air defense system were deployed at the following points.
USA:
- 6th air defense missile squadron (New York) - 56 “A” missiles;
- 22nd Air Defense Missile Squadron (Virginia) - 28 “A” missiles and 28 “B” missiles;
- 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron (Massachusetts) - 28 “A” missiles and 28 “B” missiles;
- 30th Air Defense Missile Squadron (Maine) - 28 B missiles;
- 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron (New York) - 56 B missiles;
- 38th Air Defense Missile Squadron (Michigan) - 28 B missiles;
- 46th Air Defense Missile Squadron (New Jersey) - 28 A missiles, 56 B missiles;
- 74th air defense missile squadron (Minnesota) - 28 missiles V.
Canada:
- 446th Missile Squadron (Ontario) - 28 B missiles;
- 447th Missile Squadron (Quebec) - 28 B missiles.
In 1961, an improved version of the CIM-10V missile defense system was adopted. Unlike modification "A", the new rocket had a solid-propellant launch booster, improved aerodynamics and an improved homing system.
CIM-10B
The Westinghouse AN / DPN-53 homing radar, which operated in continuous mode, significantly increased the missile's capabilities to engage low-flying targets. The radar installed on the CIM-10B SAM could capture a fighter-type target at a distance of 20 km. The new RJ43-MA-11 engines made it possible to increase the radius to 800 km, at a speed of almost 3.2 M. All missiles of this modification were equipped only with nuclear warheads, since the American military demanded from the developers the maximum probability of hitting the target.
An aerial nuclear test explosion over a nuclear test site in the Nevada desert at an altitude of 4.6 km.
However, in the 60s in the United States, nuclear warheads were put on everything that was possible. This is how the Devi Croquet "atomic" recoilless missiles with a range of several kilometers, the AIR-2 Jinny unguided air-to-air missile, the AIM-26 Falcon air-to-air guided missile, and etc. Most of the long-range MIM-14 Nike-Hercules anti-aircraft missiles deployed in the United States were also equipped with nuclear warheads.
The layout diagram of the Bomark A (a) and Bomark B (b) missiles: 1 - homing head; 2 - electronic equipment; 3 - combat compartment; 4 - combat compartment, electronic equipment, electric battery; 5 - ramjet
In appearance, modifications of missiles "A" and "B" differ little from each other. The head radio-transparent fairing of the air defense missile body, made of fiberglass, covers the homing head. The cylindrical part of the body is mainly occupied by a steel supporting tank for liquid fuel ramjet. Their starting weight is 6860 and 7272 kg; length 14, 3 and 13, 7 m, respectively. They have the same hull diameters - 0, 89 m, wingspan - 5, 54 m and stabilizers - 3, 2 m.
Characteristics of the CIM-10 SAM-10 modifications "A" and "B"
In addition to the increased speed and range, missiles of the CIM-10В modification have become significantly safer in operation and easier to maintain. Their solid fuel boosters did not contain toxic, corrosive or explosive components.
An improved version of the Bomark missile complex significantly increased the ability to intercept targets. But it took only 10 years and this air defense system was removed from service with the US Air Force. First of all, this was due to the production and setting on combat duty in the USSR of a large number of ICBMs, against which the Bomark air defense system was absolutely useless.
Plans to intercept Soviet long-range bombers with anti-aircraft missiles with nuclear warheads over Canadian territory caused numerous protests among the inhabitants of the country. Canadians did not want to admire "nuclear fireworks" over their cities at all for the sake of US security. The objections of the inhabitants of Canada against the "Bomarks" with nuclear warheads caused the resignation in 1963 of the government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
As a result, the inability to deal with ICBMs, political complications, the high cost of operation, combined with the inability to relocate the complexes, led to the abandonment of its further operation, although most of the existing missiles did not serve their due date.
SAM MIM-14 "Nike-Hercules"
For comparison, the long-range air defense system MIM-14 "Nike-Hercules" adopted almost simultaneously with the CIM-10 "Bomark" air defense system was operated in the American armed forces until the mid-80s, and in the armies of the American allies until the end of the 90s. Then the MIM-104 "Patriot" air defense missile system was replaced.
The CIM-10 missiles removed from combat duty after the warheads were removed from them and the remote control system was installed using radio commands, were operated in the 4571st support squadron until 1979. They were used as targets imitating Soviet supersonic cruise missiles.
When assessing the Bomark air defense system, two diametrically opposed opinions are usually expressed, from: "wunderwaffle" to "having no analogues." The funny thing is that both of them are fair. The flight characteristics of the "Bomark" remain unique to this day. The effective range of modification "A" was 320 kilometers at a speed of 2.8 M. Modification "B" could accelerate to 3.1 M, and had a radius of 780 kilometers. At the same time, the combat effectiveness of this complex was largely questionable.
In the event of a real nuclear attack on the United States, the Bomark air defense missile system could effectively function exactly until the SAGE global interceptor guidance system was alive (which in the event of a full-scale nuclear war is very doubtful). Partial or complete loss of performance of even one link of this system, consisting of: guidance radars, computing centers, communication lines or command transmission stations, inevitably led to the impossibility of withdrawing CIM-10 anti-aircraft missiles to the target area.
But one way or another, the creation of the CIM-10 "Bomark" air defense system was a major achievement of the American aviation and radio-electronic industry during the Cold War. Fortunately, this complex, which was on alert, was never used for its intended purpose. Now these once formidable anti-aircraft missiles carrying nuclear charges can only be seen in museums.
