AAM-N-4 Oriole

• Name — AAM-N-4 Oriole • Origin — United States • Type — Air-to-air missile • Is Explosive — yes • Is Missile — yes • Service — 1950–1955 • Used By — United States Navy • Design Date — 1947 • Manufacturer — Martin • Weight — 1500 lb • Length — 11 ft • Diameter — 11 in • Filling — High explosive • Filling Weight — 25 lb • Vehicle Range — 10 mi • Speed — Mach 2.5 • Guidance — Active radar homing • Wingspan — 3 ft • Altitude — Max at launch, 10 mi

Development of the AAM-N-4 Oriole began in 1947, when a development contract was awarded by the United States Navy's Bureau of Ordnance to the Glenn L. Martin Company to develop a heavy air-to-air missile, utilizing active radar homing for fire and forget operation, for launch from aircraft operating from aircraft carriers. Oriole was intended to utilize a rocket or rocket-ramjet propulsion system; the intended range of the weapon was 20 mi, however as tested it was limited to a range of approximately 10 mi. Ready for launch, the missile weighed 1500 lb, and used cruciform fins at the missile's midbody and at the tail for flight control. Flight speed was originally intended to be above Mach 3. In 1948, the Oriole contract was redefined to be a guidance development program instead of a project to develop an operational missile; the program to construct test vehicles resumed in 1950 for research and development purposes, the missiles being redesignated RTV-N-16. Flight testing began shortly thereafter at the Naval Air Missile Test Center at Point Mugu, California; testing continued through 1953, with 56 flight tests being conducted throughout the program; as built the missile proved to be capable of Mach 2.5. The Oriole program was terminated at the end of 1953.