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Lockheed
X-7: In
1946, U.S. Air Force called studies for the development of high speed
ramjet powered missiles. Lockheed was selected to develop an unmanned
testbed which designated X-7. The first flight took place on 1951. The X-7
program was successful. It generated many ramjet datas for the Boeing
Bomarc missile defense system and D-21 drone.
Aerojet
General X-8 Aerobee: In 1945, after Nazi capitulated, the U.S. Army called
for a program to fire the captured V-2 rockets and to fire additional
lightened rockets. Aerojet was selected to build the vehicle that became
the X-8 program. The first X-8 was flown in 1947. It carried more than
1000 payloads into the upper atmosphere, and was finally retired in 1985.
Bell
X-9 Shrike: In 1945, due to the significant losses suffered by Allied
bomber force, Army Air Force published its characteristics for an
air-to-surface stand-off missile. In 1946, Bell received Air Force
contract to develop testbed version of the missile, the program designated
X-9. The first flight was took place in 1950. It verified the basic
aerodynamic configuration of the GAM-63 missile.
Lockheed X-17: In 1954, as the various ICBM programs got underway, the
USAF and Navy needed a research vehicle that used for the testing of
reentry vehicle design. In 1955, Lockheed created missile division and was
picked up by the Air Force as contractor. The new 3-staged rocket vehicle,
designated X-17 was submitted to meet the requirement. The first flight
was took place in 1956. Its contributions to reentry vehicle technology
essentially served as the data base for all related research that
followed.
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