AIR-2 Genie AKA Ding Dong

The Douglas Genie (MB-1 Ding-Dong, AIR-2) was an unguided air-to-air rocket with a W25 nuclear warhead. It was deployed by the United States Air Force (USAF) (from 1957) and the Canadian Forces Air Command (from 1965 to 1984) during the Cold War. Production ended in 1962 after over 3000 were produced, with some related training and test derivatives occurring later. The resultant weapon carried a W25 nuclear warhead and was powered by a Thiokol SR49-TC-1 solid-fuel rocket engine of 162 kN (36,500 lbf) thrust. It had a range of slightly under 10 km (6.2 mi). Targeting, arming, and firing of the weapon were coordinated by the launch aircraft’s fire-control system. Detonation was by time-delay fuze, although the fuzing mechanism would not arm the warhead until engine burn-out, to give the launch aircraft sufficient time to turn and escape. Lethal radius of the blast was estimated to be about 300 meters (1,000 ft). The first test firings of inert rounds took place in 1956, a