US Navy EX Series Projects

[A_Random_Guy]

Similar to Tzoli's lists this is an attempt to create a comprehensive list of the EX- series projects as show up in US Navy documents. These primarily have to do with projectiles, weapons, and warheads but also include electronics. To this end where possible I would like to include designation, a basic description, sourcing for the description (as detailed as possible), and when it appeared (or when it is first referenced). Some of the designations overlap so there may be a couple of series that use the same "EX" designation.

The main source of these will be from the History of China Lake series of books.

EX-0 Airframe
Early airframe for the Sidewinder Missile. Square tail surfaces around 1/4 of the way from the rear end of the missile. First photos dated to October 1950.
Magnificent Mavericks Page 205

EX-1 Airframe
Redesigned airframe for the OMAR missile with "reduced drag and increased stability". Circa 1952.
Magnificent Mavericks Page 291.

EX-1 Bomb director
Early name for the Mk 9 bomb director for small attack aircraft (created prior to 1953 when work began on the Mk 10). Would evolve into the Mk 10 as used in the A-4 Skyhawk.
Magnificent Mavericks Page 154.

EX-2 Torpedo
"Experimental torpedo design using electric propulsion; used for Mk 44 torpedo." Magnificent Mavericks Page 451, 486.
Part of RETORC between 1954 and 1956. The Station Comes of Age Page 439

EX-5 Torpedo
"Redesigned version of Mk 43 air-launched antisubmarine torpedo, featuring a protective air-brake clamshell to be jettisoned on water entry." Magnificent Mavericks Page 486.

EX-8 Torpedo
"Torpedo powered by a hot-gas engine and propelled by a pumpjet; became the Mk 46 torpedo." Part of the RETORC program after 1954 but before 1958.
Magnificent Mavericks Page 353, 486.

EX-9 Warhead
Redesigned HVAR warhead for optimized underwater performance for use against submarines. Circa 1950
Magnificent Mavericks Page 216

EX-10 Bomb
1000lb Low drag general purpose bomb, likely the predicessor to the Mk 83. First reference in 1952.
MODIFICATION AND TEST OF FIN ASSEMBLY FOR BOMB GP 1000 LB LOW DRAG TYPE EX 10 MOD 9: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD0015015.pdf

EX-16 Fire Control System
An advanced fire control system meant as a smaller ("1/3rd as large, 1/3rd as heavy, and costing 1/3rd as much") replacement for the mark 16 air to air FCS. Installed in an F9F-5 in 1954. Magnificent Mavericks Page 157.

EX 29 Warhead
Early warhead designation for the Mk 19 warhead of the Bullpup missile. Circa 1958.
A Review of Metallurgical Factors in Development of the Warhead Mk 19 Mod 0 for ASM-N-7a BULLPUP Guided Missile: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD0321180.pdf

EX-30 Projectile
~75lb ASW projectile for the 5"/38. Effectively shaped like a hedgehog bomb but scaled to a 5" barrel and around 50" long. Testing began at least by October 1951.
5" ANTI-SUBMARINE PROJECTILE EX-30: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA800507.pdf

EX 48 Decoy
Ship's Ordnance Infrared Decoy (SOID) became the Mk 48. Work began early 1969 with pilot production by the end of 1969.
Holding the Course pg 262

EX 52 Warhead
145lb warhead for use on the Shrike missile. Work began between 1961 and 1964
The Station Comes of Age Page 189

EX 60 Warhead
Modified Zuni illumination warhead for use by fixed wing aircraft, provided illumination for 5 minutes. Work began prior to 1967.
The Station Comes of Age Page 263

EX 105 Projectile
Semi Active Laser Guided 5" projectile prior to 1976, termed "Deadeye".
Holding the Course pg 71

EX 106 Projectile
IR guided version of the EX 105. Prior to 1976
Holding the Course pg 71

 

[NMaude]

EX-1 Airframe

This was also the designation for the production version of the initial Sidewinder model the AIM-9A/B.

 

[A_Random_Guy]

This was also the designation for the production version of the initial Sidewinder model the AIM-9A/B.

That makes sense given OMAR and Sidewinder were sister projects.

 

[Andreas Parsch]

Some of the designations overlap so there may be a couple of series that use the same "EX" designation.

This is to be expected.

EX numbers work like MARK numbers - they are assigned separately for each type of equipment. The MARK/MOD Nomenclature System is defined in MIL-STD-1661 (1978), where it says that EX numbers share the numerical series with MARK numbers. It seems that when EX numbers were first introduced (1950s??), they used their own sequences, starting from 1.

 

[A_Random_Guy]

This is to be expected.

EX numbers work like MARK numbers - they are assigned separately for each type of equipment. The MARK/MOD Nomenclature System is defined in MIL-STD-1661 (1978), where it says that EX numbers share the numerical series with MARK numbers. It seems that when EX numbers were first introduced (1950s??), they used their own sequences, starting from 1.

Thanks, that clarifies the use of the designator and certainly would explain the discontinuities between EX number and Mark number.

 

[Scott Kenny]

EX 48 Decoy
Ship's Ordnance Infrared Decoy (SOID) became the Mk 48. Work began early 1969 with pilot production by the end of 1969.
Holding the Course pg 262

The Mk48 torpedo?

 

[A_Random_Guy]

The Mk48 torpedo?

No, a pyrotechnic flare to act as a shipboard infrared decoy.

(from Holding the Course)

 

[Scott Kenny]

No, a pyrotechnic flare to act as a shipboard infrared decoy.
View attachment 785916
(from Holding the Course)

Thanks!

That makes a lot more sense.