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Martin Aircraft Matador GLCM |
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This is the Martin Aircraft (now Lockheed Martin) Matador Ground-Launched Cruise Missile
(GLCM). The Matador was developed starting in 1947, and was the first missile ever
deployed by the Air Force. The first launch took place on January 19, 1949 at the White Sands Missile Range in New
Mexico. By 1951, testing was moved to Patrick Air Force Base in Florida (south of Cape Canaveral).
There were two production models of the Matador: Matador
A (also known as the B-61A and later the TM-61A) and Matador C (TM-61C). The "TM" in the missile's designation
identified its role as a "Tactical Missile." The only major difference between the two was a new guidance system on
the Matador C. A total of 1200 Matador GLCMs were produced, of which 200 were deployed in Europe and South
Korea.
Matador specifications and performance |
Length |
39 ft. 6 in. |
Wingspan |
28 ft. 7 in. |
Thrust |
Sustainer: 4600 lbs.
Booster: 55,000 lbs. |
Speed |
Mach 0.9 |
Ceiling |
35,000 ft. |
Range |
700 miles |
Warhead |
Conventional or nuclear (W-5 fission, 40-50 KT yield) |