Westinghouse AN/GPA-35 Ground Environment

The Westinghouse AN/GPA-35 Ground Environment (GPA-35 colloq.) was a surface-to-air missile weapons direction system for Cold War launch and steering during CIM-10 Bomarc tests.[1] The command guidance system manufactured by Westinghouse Electric Corporation[2] used Bendix AN/FPS-20 Radar data to track the missile, and Lincoln Laboratory Division 6 had an "AN/GPA-35 Study Group" for integrating the AN/GPA-35 into the SAGE System.[3] Notable launches with GPA-35 guidance included [4] (e.g., at the Eastern Range):

  • 1956 October—Six launches were used to test the AN/GPA-35 capability to command BOMARC intercept of QB-17 drones.
  • 1957 October—A BOMARC test with "live high-explosive warhead" failed when the GPA-35 commanded "faulty mid-course guidance".
  • 1958 May 1 -- The "GPA-35 could not control the missile beyond 130 miles."
  • 1958 August 7 -- A GPA-35 took control of an airborne BOMARC from the Experimental SAGE Sector, and the missile malfunctioned and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
  • 1959 March 6 -- A straying BOMARC was self-destructed near the western boundary of the "Eglin Gulf Test Range" after a GPA-35 had transmitted the wrong commands.
  • 1959 April 13—The GPA-35 lost control of the missile 100 seconds after launch.
  • 1959 April 24—GPA-35 control was used for simultaneous guidance of 2 BOMARCS.

References
  1. http://dome.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.3/40636/MC665_r16_M-4316.pdf?sequence=1
  2. Rice, Helen. History of Ogden Air Material Area… 1934 - 1960 (Scribd image) (Report). p. 204. Retrieved 2013-07-22. On 17 May 1957 the Boeing Airplane Co., the prime contractor, received its initial contract for a plus [sic] $135 million to produce IM-99 Bomarcs. …Boeing subcontracted to…Westinghouse Electric for the AN/GPA-35, ground-to-air guidance system used on the Bomarc until SAGE was fully operational
  3. http://dome.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.3/46017/MC665_r14_6M-4347.pdf?sequence=1
  4. McMullen, R. F. (15 Feb 1980). History of Air Defense Weapons 1946–1962 (Report). ADC Historical Study No. 14. Historical Division, Office of information, HQ ADC. |access-date= requires |url= (help)


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