XSM-73 Goose

Background

Development of the Goose began in December 1952 with concept studies by Fairchild. In March 1953, the United States Air Force issued General Operational Requirement 16, calling for a long-range decoy missile to increase the effectiveness of Strategic Air Command bombers. Study contracts were awarded to Convair and Fairchild in July 1954 under project MX-2223. Fairchild's design featured a non-metallic fiberglass fuselage, a delta wing, and a v-tail, with radar reflectors in the fuselage and on wingtip pods to simulate a bomber's radar return.

The missile was to be ground-launched from Strategic Air Command bases in the continental United States, with a requirement that 50 percent of deployed missiles could be launched within the first hour after an order, and the remainder within two hours. The SM-73 was to fly 4,000 nautical miles at Mach 0.85 or greater at 50,000 feet, carrying a 500-pound payload of radar reflectors and active electronic countermeasures. It was unarmed.

Design

Testing began in February 1957 with rocket sled tests at Holloman Air Force Base, followed by flights from Patrick Air Force Base using launch complexes 21 and 22 near Cape Canaveral Light. Five dummy booster launches and fifteen test flights were conducted between March 1957 and December 1958. The Fairchild J83 engine powered all test flights, though the missile was also capable of using the General Electric J85.

Funding issues and problems with the fiberglass wing, booster rocket, and engine delayed testing. The United States Air Force planned to purchase 2,328 operational missiles and 53 test missiles for ten squadrons, with deployment to start in 1961 at Duluth Municipal Airport, Minnesota, and Ethan Allen Air Force Base, Vermont. Construction of launch sites began in August 1958.

The program was canceled in December 1958 because the missile could not simulate a B-52 on radar. The Fairchild J83 engine program was also canceled in November 1958. Total program cost at cancellation was $136.5 million USD. The SD-5 Osprey reconnaissance drone was later developed using the Goose as a basis.