Aerojet SD-2 Overseer

The Aerojet SD-2 Overseer was an unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Aerojet General and Rheem Manufacturing Co.^[1] in the late 1950s for use by the United States Army. Built in limited numbers, it never saw operational service.

Design and development

Development of the SD-2 drone began in 1957 by the Rheem Manufacturing Company, and the project continued through the company's acquisition by Aerojet General in 1959.^[2] Developed as part of the AN/USD-2 surveillance system, the SD-2 was designed for truck launch using two solid rocket boosters; following launch, a piston engine provided propulsion. At the end of its mission, the drone would be recovered via parachute.^[2] Control was provided by a translateration system for navigation (similar to the much later differential GPS technology), which allowed the aircraft to steer on a pre-programmed course.^[3]

The SD-2 was designed to use a modular sensor system, allowing equipment to be switched between missions according to requirements. Available payloads included cameras for either recovered or real-time photography, AN/AAD-2 infrared sensor, AN/DPD-2 side looking airborne radar, or equipment for the dispensing of biological or chemical warfare agents from tanks mounted under the wings of the aircraft.^[3]

Operational history

Thirty-five production SD-2s were produced. Poor results from the navigation system resulted in the system's cancellation in 1966, and the program was terminated without any Overseers having seen operational service.^[3] In 1963, the SD-2 was given the designation MQM-58A under the revised designation system.^[2]

Specifications

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: None
• Length: 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m)
• Wingspan: 13 ft 4 in (4.06 m)
• Height: 3 ft 7 in (1.09 m)
• Wing area: 27.8 sq ft (2.58 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 6.4
• Gross weight: 992 lb (450 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,124 lb (510 kg) without boosters; 1,334 lb (605 kg) including boosters
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming LIO-360-B1B horizontally opposed piston engine, 225 hp (168 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 345 mph (556 km/h, 300 kn)
• Combat range: 115 mi (185 km, 100 nmi)
• Endurance: 45 minutes
• Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)

Avionics

• 234 lb (106 kg) equipment capacity.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Radioplane MQM-57 Falconer
• Republic SD-3 Snooper

Lists

List of military electronics of the United States

References

Citations

1. Mission ensured with a reliable Rheem drone system. // Aviation Week & Space Technology, February 9, 1959, v. 70, no. 6, p. 76.
2. Parsch 2002.
3. Newcome 2004, p.74.
4. Taylor 1965, p. 351.

Bibliography

• Newcome, Lawrence R. (2004). Unmanned Aviation: A Brief History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Reston, Virginia: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN 978-1-56347-644-0.
• Parsch, Andreas (2002). "Aerojet General SD-2/MQM-58 Overseer". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
• Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1965). Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1965-1966. London: Sampson Low,. Marston & Company Ltd.