North American MQM-42

Lore & Background

The MQM-42, given the company designation NA-273, was a small aircraft of largely conventional design featuring small delta wings and a downswept tailplane. Its vertical stabilizer doubled as a pylon for the aircraft's ramjet engine, and a solid-propellant rocket provided thrust until the ramjet reached operating speed. Launch was from the same launcher used by the MGR-3 Little John battlefield rocket. Two minor variants were produced: 'Redhead' optimized for high-altitude flight up to 60,000 ft, and 'Roadrunner' for low-altitude operation as low as 300 ft above the ground. Both could reach speeds between Mach 0.9 and Mach 2. An autopilot set to maintain a preset altitude provided control, with radio command guidance from a ground control station able to override the autopilot. At the end of a flight, if not shot down, recovery could be either on command from the ground station or automatic in case of fuel exhaustion or loss of control; a retrorocket would decelerate the drone to allow deployment of a recovery parachute.

Reader's Guide

The MQM-42's significance lies in its role as a realistic supersonic target for training United States Army personnel in tracking and engaging targets with the MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile. Its two specialized variants—Redhead for high-altitude and Roadrunner for low-altitude profiles—allowed the Army to simulate a range of threat scenarios. The drone's design, using a ramjet engine boosted by a solid-propellant rocket and launched from a Little John rocket launcher, demonstrated a practical approach to achieving sustained supersonic speeds in a recoverable target drone. The MQM-42 remained in service through the mid-1970s, providing a critical training tool during a period of evolving air defense needs. Its recovery system, using a retrorocket and parachute, enabled reuse of the drone, which was important for cost-effective training. The program's legacy is that of a dedicated, purpose-built target drone that directly supported the operational readiness of Hawk missile batteries.

Did You Know?

• The MQM-42 was developed under the company designation NA-273.
• It was launched from the same launcher as the MGR-3 Little John battlefield rocket.
• The 'Redhead' variant was optimized for altitudes up to 60,000 ft, while 'Roadrunner' could operate as low as 300 ft.
• Recovery was achieved by a retrorocket that decelerated the drone before a parachute deployed.