Old school BGM-34A Drones, I mean UAVs
A video of the early BQM-34A and then the -34B. Demonstration flights flown by the 6514th Test Squadron of the AF Flight Test Center. The vehicle was flown using a nose TV camera. The missile was launched using a separate sensor display. The -34A launched the Maverick, Stubby HOBO in test flights. The early -34A lacked asymmetric flight capability thus during missile launch a weighted shape was dropped from the opposite wing. The later -34B included a laser designation nose and could fly without the weighted shape. It is shown launching a Maverick and a Shrike missile. These demonstration flights starting in 1972 showed the capability of defense suppression in a program called HAVE LEMON.
In the late 1950s, the USAF awarded Ryan a contract for a substantially improved “second generation” Firebee, the Model 124, originally with the designation Q-2C. The initial prototype performed its first flight in late 1958 and went into production in 1960. In 1963, it was redesignated the BQM-34A.
The BQM-34A emerged as the Firebee as it is recognized today, with a bigger airframe, longer wings, and in particular a “chin”-type inlet under a pointed nose, in contrast to the circular intake of the first-generation Firebees. It was powered by a Continental J69-T-29A turbojet, a copy of the improved Turbomeca Gourdon derivative of the Marbore, with 1,700 pound (770 kg) thrust.
Specifications (BQM-34A)
Crew: None
Length: 22 ft 10 in (7.00 m)
Wingspan: 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
Empty weight: 1,500 lb (680 kg)
Gross weight: 2,500 lb (1,135 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Continental J69-T-29A, 1,700 lbf (7.6 kN)
Maximum speed: 710 mph (1,140 km/h)
Endurance: 1 hours 15 min
Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,300 m)
The neatest thing was that four of these could be carried by a C-130 externally and launched while airborne. Just think if a dozen modern C-130Js carrying a fleet of modernized Firebees using current electronics and weapons were around. They could launch 48 of these 22-foot long drones upto 800-miles away from a target. That could lead to some fun air defense.
Not bad for 1960s tech