US AIM-97 ''Seekbat'' Missile

By Crusader1307

Tested in 1972 by General Dynamics, The AIM-97 ''Seekbat'''' was envisioned as an air to air Counter Missile. Designed for use by the US F-4 ''Phantom'' Interceptor-Fighter as a Soviet t ''MIG Killer'', the Production Model never entered service (but prototypes were designed for testing). This was due in part to money restraints and slow Testing Plans. Couple by the closer study of The MIG Fighter from defections and crashes, it was determined that ''Seekbat'' was too expensive for what it was intended to do. The AIM-97 was 15-feet long with a 15-inch diameter. It weighed 1,300-pounds. Stabilization wings were 43-inches long. Power was provided by a solid-fueled Aerojet Mark 27 Rocket Engine, capable of achieving 80,000-feet. The operational range of ''Seekbat'' was rated at 55-miles. Non-Nuclear, guidance was provided by SARH (Semi-Active Radar Homing) Systems.