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| Copyright © 2002-2007Andreas Parsch |
FordMER-6Blue Scout ERCS
In September 1961, the Strategic Air Command of the USAF issued a requirement for a rocket-borne UHF communication systemin defense emergencies when conventional communication links were disrupted.This system, called ERCS (Emergency Rocket Communications System), was to provide a reliable and survivableconnectivity between command posts and launch control centers. The ERCS UHF transmitters carried prerecorded force executionmessages that were transmitted to all units within line of sight of a rocket's apogee.
Air Force Program 279L was initiated for deployment of an interim ERCS capability on Ford AeronutronicsXRM-91Blue Scout Junior rockets. The XRM-91 was a four-stage rocket based on LTV'sScout family of launch vehicles, whichfirst flew on 21 September 1960.Blue Scout Junior rockets and otherScout derivatives were used as launch vehiclesby the USAF throughout the 1960s under the basic designation ofSLV-1Scout.TheBlue Scout Junior variant used for Program 279L was designatedSLV-1C. It replaced the XRM-91'sAlcorthird stage by anAltair and omitted the fourth stage.
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| Photo: USAF |
| XRM-91 |
The first launch of an SLV-1C rocket equipped with an ERCS occurred on 31 May 1962.In July 1963, theBlue Scout Junior ERCS was declared operational, with rockets based at three locations in Nebraska.Shortly before, in June 1963, the ERCS-equipped SLV-1C had received the designationMER-6A.
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| Photo:Scott Murdock |
| MER-6A |
The ultimate ERCS used modifiedLGM-30FMinuteman II missiles as carrier vehicles.TheMinuteman ERCS (possibly tentatively designatedLEM-70A) became operational in October 1967, and inDecember 1967 the MER-6A rockets had been withdrawn from service. TheMinuteman ERCS remained operational until the early 1990s.
Specifications
Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!
Data forSLV-1C (MER-6A was similar):
| Length | 12.34 m (40 ft 5.8 in) |
| Finspan | 1st stage: 2.62 m (8 ft 7 in) 2nd stage: 1.64 m (5 ft 4.6 in) |
| Diameter | 0.79 m (31 in) |
| Weight | 5800 kg (12800 lb) |
| Altitude | 1000 km (625 miles) |
| Propulsion | 1st stage: Thiokol XM33Castor solid-fuel rocket; 259 kN (58300 lb) for 37 s 2nd stage: Alleghany Ballistics Lab (Hercules) X-254Antares solid-fuel rocket; 60.5 kN (13600 lb) for 39 s 3rd stage: Allegany Ballistics Lab X-248 Altair 1 solid-fueled rocket; 12.4 kN (2800 lb) for 38 s |
Main Sources
[1]Federation of American Scientists Website
[2] Peter Alway: "Rockets of the World, 2000 Supplement", Saturn Press, 2000
[3] Jonathan McDowell:Launch Vehicles Database
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Last Updated:9 July 2007