Linthicum Heights in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Nike Ajax
Anti-Aircraft Missile Radar
In the 1950's there were seven batteries of Nike Ajax anti-aircraft missiles located around Baltimore to protect the city, Friendship Airport, and various industrial sites, as well as the Aberdeen ordnance and Edgewood chemical facilities from Russian bombers.
Various Air Force and Navy air-warning net systems would alert the Army Nike site to hostile approaching aircraft.
The Nike-Ajax (Army) was the first operational American surface-to-air missile, SAM-A-7, replacing 90mm and 120 mm anti-aircraft guns of WWII.
This is the antenna of the target tracking radar, MPA-4. Subsequently the missile became a radar "beam rider" and thus could counter target evasive action.
By 1956, eighty Nike-Ajax sites were operating in the U.S.
Prime Contractor: Western Electric
Guidance: Bell Labs
Propulsion: Aerojet-General
Airframe: Douglas
Missile Performance
Speed - Mach 2
Range - 30 miles
Ceiling - 65,000 feet.
Erected by National Electronics Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce • Military • War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.
Location. 39° 11.755′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. TPS-43 (here, next to this marker); AN/SPG-55B Radar (within shouting distance of this marker); SCR-270 Radar Antenna (within shouting distance of this marker); FuG 65 Wurzburg Riese (Giant) Radar Antenna (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); XAF Radar Antenna (about 300 feet away); Stoney Run Train Station (approx. 0.9 miles away); Elkridge Furnace Inn (approx. 1.6 miles away); Elkridge Landing (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Linthicum Heights.
Photographed By Adam Margolis, December 19, 2022
2. Nike Ajax Marker
Marker is the rightmost of the ones along the sidewalk.
Photographed By Adam Margolis, December 19, 2022
3. Nike Ajax
Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 274 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3. submitted on March 21, 2023, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California.
