The North American SM-64 Navaho was a supersonic intercontinental cruise missile project built by North American Aviation. The program ran from 1946 to 1958 when it was cancelled in favor of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.
The Navaho program began as part of a series of guided missile research efforts started in 1946. Designated MX-770, the original intent of the program was the development of a winged V-2 missile that could deliver a nuclear (fission) warhead over a distance of 500 miles. This was more than double the range of the V-2 as well as having a larger payload. Design studies showed the promise of still greater ranges and by 1950 the vehicle had evolved from a 500 mile ground launched winged V-2, to a 1,000 mile range ramjet powered winged V-2, to a 1,500 mile air-launched, ramjet-powered, winged V-2 (actually designated XSSM-A-2), to finally a 3,000 mile plus rocket boosted ramjet powered cruise missile. The design evolution finally ended in July of 1950 with the issuing by the Air Force of Weapon System 104-A. Under this new requirement the purpose of the program was the development of a 5,500 mile range nuclear missile.
Statistics
Length: 67 ft 11 in (20.7 m)
Wingspan: 28 ft 7 in (8.71 m)
Loaded weight: 64,850 lb (29,420 kg)
Powerplant: 2× XRJ47-W-5 ramjets, 15,000 lbf (67 kN) each
2× XLR83-NA-1 rocket boosters, 200,000 lbf (890 kN) each
Maximum speed: Mach 3 (2,000 kn, 3,700 km/h)
Range: 3,500 nmi, (6,500 km)
Service ceiling 77,000 ft (23,000 m)
Thrust/weight (jet): 0.46:1
Armament: 1x nuclear warhead
Built by: The Missile Division of North American Aviation