FIRST -- Operational American Surface-to-Air Missile - Linthicum Heights, MD
Posted by: 
bluesnote
N 39° 11.753 W 076° 41.037
18S E 354582 N 4339864
One of many historical markers at the National Electronics Museum in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.
Waymark Code: WM17PY0
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 03/21/2023
Views: 1
The plaque says, "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."
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event
Date of FIRST: 01/01/1950
More Information - Web URL: Not listed
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