North American AGM-28 “Hound Dog”

North American AGM-28 “Hound Dog”. USAFM 2007-3046-0032. The North American Aviation Corporation AGM-28 Hound Dog was was a supersonic, jet-powered, air-launched cruise missile. The Hound Dog was initially given the designation B-77, later re-designated GAM-77, and finally designated the AGM-28. It was to be utilized as an air to ground missile which would enable B-52 bombers to penetrate Soviet defenses with their weapons. The W28 warhead could be configured to yield an explosion between 70 kilotons and 1.45 megatons., The first drop test of a dummy Hound Dog occurred in November 1958. On December 21, 1959, General Thomas S. Power, Commander in Chief of the USAF Strategic Air Command, formally accepted the first production Hound Dog missile. Full operational capability was achieved in August 1963 when 29 B-52 bomber wings were operational with the Hound Dog., After thirteen years of service in the USAF, the last Hound Dog missile was removed from alert on June 30, 1975. The last Hound Dog was retired on June 15, 1978. The missile on display was acquired by the 8th AF Museum in 1985 from an undisclosed 8th AF test range. No Hound Dog missiles were ever used in combat., Specifications , Span: 12' 2" . Length: 42' 6" . Height: 9' 4" . Weight: 10,147 lbs . Crew: None . Armament:1,742 lb W28 thermonuclear warhead, Performance , Max speed: 1,617 mph . Range: 785 miles . Service ceiling: 56,200 ft . Engine: Pratt and Whitney J52-P-3 turbojet