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Republic XF-103 (Thunderwarrior)

1956 COLD WAR X-PLANE

History

Until ground-launched missiles became the basis for a viable air defense system, "interceptor" fighter jets were the main antidote to high-altitude long-range heavy bombers. In the 1950s, as the threat from Soviet jet bombers (and associated nuclear transport capabilities) increased, the United States Air Force (USAF) sought solutions to the problem at hand, resulting in a dizzying array of concepts, The development and production of aircraft must live up to the role.

The mid-1950s development became the Republic XF-103 Thunder Warrior (Corporate Designation "AP-57"), designed to meet USAF requirements for a technologically advanced, supersonic, missile-armed interceptor starting in 1949. The nature of this requirement required an extremely aerodynamic profile, with swept wing surfaces and a powerful propulsion system beyond what was common in fighter jets at the time.

The Air Force plans to try to combine the aircraft with a new Fire Control System (FCS) - the Hughes "MA-1" - and new air-to-air missile technology. The initiative was called the "1954 Interceptor" and was officially recognized as the "WS-201A Weapon System".

Of the six competing proposals, three selected proposals were submitted in 1951, the Convair XF-102 (based on its smaller XF-92), the Lockheed XF-104, and the Republic XF-103 . Into the Republic is a stylish product showcasing a sleek board-sided hull with a pointed cone. The smaller delta-wing main aircraft was mounted at shoulder height near the midship, and the aft horizontal stabilizer was mounted midway on the rear side of the fuselage. A vertical tail covers the fins, and all wing surfaces are heavily brushed along their leading edges. The cockpit is a retractable capsule that is affixed to the front of the nose-facing design in the usual way - the capsule can be raised for ground operation or folded for supersonic flight. All weapons will remain internal to maintain the interceptor's aerodynamics.

Three-wheeled landing gear will function, consisting of a single-wheeled front leg mounted aft of the cockpit floor and a pair of single-wheeled main legs mounted on the fuselage between the main plane of the wings and the horizontal. The technology on the plane only allows the use of one crew member.

FCS has the ability to bring the aircraft to the target area, track the target and attack the target itself. The standard armament is centered on 6 x Hughes GAR-3 Falcon Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM), and also carries a set of 36 x Folding Fin Aviation Rockets (FFAR).

Alternatively, the interceptor can deploy 4 Hughes Falcon missiles and 2 nuclear warheads AAM.

One of the most interesting design qualities of an already advanced aircraft is the hybrid powerplant. The primary cruising thrust will come from a standard turbojet - the Wright XJ67-W-1 in development - alongside another development, the Wright XJ55-E-1 ramjet. Ramjets add extra power to turbojet rigs, but require a minimum operating speed before they can be used effectively.

It is estimated that the streamlined aircraft can reach speeds of Mach 3, operate at an altitude of 60,000 feet, and have a climb rate of 19,000 feet per minute.

A common air intake in the belly of the aircraft feeds air into the engines. The pipes are designed in such a way that they can be rearranged at any time for ramjet or turbojet use. Ramjets provide higher thrust and therefore higher operating speeds for the proposed interceptor.

However, the ramjets of that era were known to be very fuel-hungry and could only deliver efficiencies in excess of Mach 1 speeds.

The Republic built a model and tested it in March 1953, resulting in a contract for a total of three prototypes in June 1954. Due to the nature of high-speed flight, where temperatures remain high despite the cold environment, titanium will play an important role in the manufacture of aircraft.

This complicates an already complex aircraft as titanium has never been an easy material to machine. The engine itself was facing increasing delays, and the budget for the project was beyond comfortable levels. The 1954 interceptor program was effectively phased out in 1957, and the XF-103 came to an end in Cold War history.

Meanwhile, the rival Convair XF-102 enjoyed a healthy career as a multi-directional interceptor - becoming the F-102 "Triangle Dagger" (detailed elsewhere on this site). Likewise, Lockheed's template became the Mach 2-capable F-102 "Starfighter" with its own notable service career.

The model mentioned above is all done by the XF-103.