US AGM-45 ''Shrike'' Missile

By Crusader1307

One of America's first Anti-Radiation Missiles, The “Shrike” was deployed in 1963. The first combat use of The AGM-45 was in The Vietnam War.. Kit was originally designed as an Air To Air Missile for Fighters. The AGM-45 was shielded to protect against low-yield Nuclear radiation experienced during in-air detonation. The “Shrike” was 300-pounds with a 10-foot shaft weight and an 8-inch diameter. The “Shrike” was fin stabilized. The AGM-45 was rated at Mach 1.5. The “Shrike” was designed to carry a non-nuclear payload, 70-pound fragmentation blast warhead. The “Shrike” was a passive Radar guided weapon. Variants of the AGM-45 were used up to The Gulf War (1991). They are still in US Inventory.