Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles
Martin Marietta 845A
Copyright © 2004 Andreas Parsch

Martin Marietta 845A

In 1971, the U.S. Air Force began the COMPASS DWELL program to develop an unmanned aircraft for data-gathering and as a communications relay with an endurance of at least 24 hours. Two designs were selected for the competion, the E-Systems XQM-93A and the Martin Marietta Model 845A. For unknown reasons, the latter did not receive an XQM-n designation. Design of the Model 845A began in May 1971, and in April 1972 the first of the two prototypes flew for the first time.

Photo: via Jane's
Martin Marietta 845A


The airframe of the Model 845A was based on the Schweizer SGS 1-34 sailplane. It was fitted with an Avco-Lycoming TIO-360 turbo-supercharged piston engine and a non-retractable tricycle landing gear. The aircraft was remotely controlled using an AN/APW-26 radio command and control link. On 30 June/1 July 1972, the Model 845A showed its endurance potential by staying in the air for 27 hours 54 minutes on the last flight of the program.

When the COMPASS DWELL competition ended in 1972, none of the two designs was selected for further development and production.

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for Model 845A:

Length7.74 m (25 ft 4.75 in)
Wingspan18.01 m (59 ft 1.25 in)
Height2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Weight1050 kg (2320 lb)
Speed240 km/h (150 mph)
Ceiling?
Endurance28 h
PropulsionAvco-Lycoming TIO-360-A3B6 piston engine; 149 kW (200 hp)

Main Sources

[1] Kenneth Munson: "World Unmanned Aircraft", Jane's, 1988


Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4





Last Updated: 15 May 2004