Genie, an air-to-air unguided rocket for use against formations of enemy bombers, became operational in 1957. The weapon remained inert in a nuclear sense until it was armed in the air a few minutes before firing. On July 19, 1957, a Genie was launched from an F-89J, marking the only time in history that an air-to-air rocket with a nuclear warhead was launched and detonated. The test took place at 20,000 ft over the Nevada test site, and the rocket was fired at a point approximately 14,000 ft away. The Genie covered this distance in 4.5 seconds and was detonated by ground command. The Air Force had personnel standing directly under the blast in an attempt to demonstrate that a low-yield nuclear weapon could be used over cities. These people on the ground suffered no immediate ill effects from the experiment. Production of the Genie ended in 1962, and the rocket was phased out of service by 1986. A training version, designated ATR-2A, featured a white-cloud spotting charge instead of a nuclear warhead. These rounds were nicknamed "Ting-a-Lings." Carrier aircraft were F-89J, F-101B, and F-106A.
| Contractors: |
Douglas Aircraft Co. |
| Locations Built: |
Huntington Beach, Calif. |
| Number Built: (USAF) |
Several thousand, exact number unconfirmed (all) |
| First Launch: |
1956 |
| First Flight Model: |
Unconfirmed but possibly XMB-1 |
| First Flight Location: |
Unconfirmed |
| Models/Variants: |
MB-1 (later redesignated AIR-2A) |
| Powerplant: |
One Thiokol SR49-TC-1 solid-propellant rocket of more than 36,000 lb thrust |
| Wingspan: |
1 ft 5.35 in |
| Length: |
9 ft 7 in. |
| Weight: |
820 lb. |
| Finspan: |
3 ft 31/2 in. |
| Armament: |
One W-25 nuclear warhead with a yield of approx two kilotons |
| Cost: |
Unconfirmed |
| Max. Speed: |
Approx 1,800 mph |
| Range: |
6 mi. |
| Ceiling: |
Limited to carrier aircraft |
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