The Martin TM-61A Matador Missile
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The Martin Matador TM-61A missile at the National Museum of the USAF
Martin Matador Missile Introduction
Martin was awarded a $1.8 million USD contract in 1946 to develop the Matador weapon under project "MX-771", and conducted initial test launches of the "XSSM-A-1" and "YSSM-A-1" prototypes at White Sands Missile Range beginning in 1949. The prototypes were redesignated "XB-61" and "YB-61" in 1951.
Although the program was nearly cancelled, the Korean War revitalized it, and a production contract was awarded to Martin in 1951. The "B-61A" Matador entered operational evaluation late in that year and was accepted for operational service in 1954. It was redesignated "TM-61A" in 1955.
Martin Matador description
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Martin Matador missile launch
The "Matador-A", to simplify the issue of what to call it, was a mid-sized pilotless aircraft, with a high-mounted swept wing and a tee tail. It differed from the X/YB-61 prototypes, which had wings mounted on the midbody and a spindle-shaped fuselage. The Matador-A was launched by a single Aerojet-General solid fuel booster with 254 kN (25,850 kgp / 57,000 lbf) thrust, the booster being discarded after launch. It was one of the first aircraft of any type to use such a "zero length launch" scheme. In cruise flight, it was propelled by an Allison J33 -A-37 turbojet engine with 20.5 kN (2,090 kgp / 4,600 lbf) thrust, with the air intake set flush into the missile's belly.
| Martin Matador TM-61A | ||
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States |  |
| Numbers Built | 1200 | |
| Type | Surface-to-surface tactical missile | |
| Wing Span | 8.74 meters | 28.67 feet |
| Length | 12.06 meters | 39.57 feet |
| Height | 2.94 meters | 9.66 feet |
| Weight | 6,170 kilograms | 13,600 pounds |
| Speed | 966 kph | 600 mph |
| Range | 1,110 kilometers | 690 miles |
| Ceiling | 9,140 meters | 30,000 feet |
| Propulsion | Aerojet solid booster, Allison J33 cruise | |
| Warhead | Conventional or Nuclear | |
| Used by | USAF | |
The Matador-A was radio-guided by an operator tracking it on radar from a beacon carried on the missile, and was fitted with a 50 kilotonne nuclear warhead, though some sources also state that it could be fitted with a high explosive warhead. The requirement for radio guidance limited range to line of sight of the control center, and made the missile vulnerable to jamming. The Matador was launched from hardened shelters or from mobile trailer launchers.
The Matador TM-61C / Matador-C
The Air Force decided to build a considerably enhanced "Matador-B", discussed below, but development took longer than expected. As an interim measure, the USAF implemented a modestly improved version of the original Matador, designated "TM-61C". This "Matador-C" used the same airframe but had an improved "short range navigation vehicle (Shanicle)" guidance system that allowed it to plot its own course by mapping its position from a network of microwave transmitters. The Matador-C was introduced in 1957 and eventually replaced all Matador-As in service. It is unclear if Matador-As were converted to Matador-Cs.
About 1,200 Matadors were built, with production ending in 1957. The weapon was deployed to West Germany, Florida, and Taiwan, and remained in service until 1962. The Matador-C was retroactively redesignated "MGM-61C" in 1963.
Even as the Matador was being deployed, there were concerns that it was simply too troublesome to move around and fire, and that its radio guidance system was too easy to jam or spoof. This led to an improved version, originally designated "TM-61B", with initial test flights of "YTM-61B" prototypes in 1956. The new missile was clearly derived from the Matador, but it had a shorter wingspan and a longer blunt nose, and it was judged different enough to be redesignated "TM-76 Mace" in early 1958. It entered operational service as the "TM-76A Mace-A" in 1959.
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