Bomarc

Bomarc was a long-range surface-to-air missile developed in the United States during the 1950s for the United States Air Force (USAF), with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) later operating a variant in Canada. It was part of North American air defense during the Cold War, designed to intercept Soviet strategic bombers at long range before they could threaten continental targets.

There were two main variants, BOMARC-A and BOMARC-B. The missile used a solid-fuel booster for launch and a ramjet sustainer for sustained flight. Guidance was provided by ground-based radars under the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) fire-control network, which directed the missile toward the target, with terminal guidance conducted under command control rather than onboard sensing. The warhead option could be a nuclear device (the W-40) or a conventional high-explosive warhead, depending on mission requirements. The design emphasized rapid response to high-altitude bomber threats, with a range capable of reaching targets at considerable distance from the launch site.

Operational history: BOMARC entered service with the USAF in 1959–1960 and remained in use through the 1960s. The RCAF operated BOMARC missiles at select Canadian bases during the same period. The system was gradually retired in the late 1960s to early 1970s as newer missiles and defensive technologies emerged and due to concerns surrounding the safety of nuclear-armed missiles and evolving threat assessments.

Legacy: The Bomarc program contributed early experience with ramjet propulsion and integrated air-defense command-and-control. Its retirement reflected shifts toward more versatile and survivable defense systems, marking a transition in North American air defense strategy.