McDonnell-Douglas Model Numbers

Hi All

Model 98R = F4H-1 Block 2
Model 98AM = F4H-1 Block 3
 
Model 75

Source: http://aviationarchives.blogspot.com/2017/08/mcdonnell-model-8181a-helicopter.html
 

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Does anyone have any idea what the Model number was for the MA-31 supersonic target? For those unfamiliar with this missile, prior to it's merger with Boeing, McD received a contract from the United States Navy to evaluate the Russian Zvezda-Strela M31 (the supersonic aerial target variant of the Kh-31A [AS-17 Krypton] AShM) for potential use by the USN as a threat simulator. This involved McDonnell Douglas modifying a number of M31s bought directly from Zvezda-Strela into the MA-31 standard to meet navy needs, with a view as to then mass producing MA-31s under licence in the United States if the evaluation was successful (subject to a competion involving at least one competing domestic US design). The conversions and new build missiles included US designed tracking beacon, telemetry and self-termination systems. A small initial batch was ordered from Boeing post-merger, with the company proposing the improved MA-31PG as the main production version for the Navy's SSST (Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target) requirement. However, the MA-31PG ultimately lost out to Orbital Sciences' GQM-163 Coyote which was a late comer to the SSST program.



Note that McDonnell Douglas received a number of M31s, and tested with the USN at least two completed MA-31 conversions (one as part of a MITRE Corporation study into the acoustic detection of cruise missiles), prior to the merger with Boeing being finalised.
 
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I don't believe that the project has a "pure" St Louis (McAir) project designation.

ISTR that the project was run out of McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems; a separate organization. I have no insight as to what they did for numbers (if anything).
 

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