THE X-10 : THE FLYING MISSILE

pounds. It was propelled initially by two jet engines for takeoff and ascent, before switching to a rocket engine for continuous high-speed flight.

The missile also included sophisticated guidance and navigational systems, including an early version of inertial guidance, which enabled it to fly over great distances without requiring continuous updates from ground-based radar systems. Additionally, it had a sophisticated terrain-following radar that allowed it to fly stealthily and low to the ground without being seen by enemy radar.

Despite having cutting-edge technology, the Navaho missile’s development was plagued by a multitude of logistical and technical problems. With over 10,000 unique parts, the missile was incredibly intricate and prone to failures with its motors, guidance systems, and other vital parts.

Despite these problems, funding for the Navaho missile programme persisted throughout the 1950s as the US and the USSR competed in a nuclear weapons race. Due to a mix of technical difficulties, increasing expenses, and shifting geopolitical priorities, the missile was ultimately scrapped in 1958.

The Navaho missile programme was a significant turning point in the development of intercontinental missiles despite its failure to reach service. The Minuteman ICBM, which would serve as the mainstay of the USA’s nuclear deterrence throughout the Cold War, was developed using the lessons learnt from the Navaho programme and other later missile programmers.

The Navaho missile is recognised as a ground-breaking innovation in the world of missile technology today. Although it was never operational, its legacy can still be seen in the numerous improved missiles that came after, and in the global arms race still going today.