The Northrop SM-62 Snark was the only intercontinental surface-to-surface cruise missile ever deployed by the U.S. Air Force, but was operational for only a very short time because it was already made obsolete by the new ICBMs.
The Snark was an air-breathing design, launched from a light platform by two rocket booster engines. It would switch to an internal jet engine for the remainder of its flight. It was briefly operated by the US Strategic Air Command from 1958 until 1961.
(U.S. Air Force Photo)
Dimensions
Length: 67 ft 2 in (20.47 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m)
Weight: 48,147 lb (21,839 kg) without booster, 60,000 (27,200 kg) with booster
Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney J57 jet engine, 10,500 lbf (46.7 kN) thrust
2x Aerojet-General solid-propellant rocket boosters, 130,000 lbf (580 kN) thrust
Maximum speed: 565 knots (1,050 km/h)
Combat range: 5,497 nmiles (10,180 km)
Service ceiling: 50,250 ft (15,320 m)
Thrust/weight: 0.218:1
Warhead: Nuclear
First Firing: 08-06-1953