This historic film from Republic Aviation shows the company’s ill-fated SD-3 Snooper drone during flight tests at the U.S. Army’s Yuma proving grounds. The SD-3 was the result of an industry-wide competition for a short-range reconnaissance drone that could be launched in the field. The complete drone system including ground equipment designated AN/USD-3 and the drone itself was referred to either also as AN/USD-3 or simply as SD-3 (with “SD” usually being interpreted as “Surveillance Drone”). Some literature also refers to it as “Peeping Tom”. It was intended to have a range of 100 miles, be capable of launch from a JATO powered zero-length launcher, and weigh 1000 pounds.
As you can see in the film, the testing was star-crossed, with the vehicle crashing on its initial flights due to a design flaw with the oil system. Eventually the drone did make a series of successful flights but the program was cancelled and the Snooper was never deployed.
It’s unclear from the film whether the test model of the SD-3 carried a television, still or motion picture camera in the nose — doesn’t seem that it did –, but the Army’s design specifications intended for it to have variable nose cones for different missions.
The following description is from the Designation Systems website: “The AN/USD-3 drone was of twin-boom pusher layout, and powered by a Continental IO-200 piston engine. It was launched from a zero-length launcher with the help of two solid-propellant rocket boosters. It landed with a parachute recovery system, and was equipped with inflatable bags to ensure soft landings. The SD-3 either followed a pre-programmed course or was controlled from the ground by radio commands. It had a quickly changeable nose section, which could house one of a variety of payload options, including photographic, infrared, radar or TV reconnaissance systems. A total of 50 Snooper vehicles were built for evaluation by the U.S. Army, but in the end the AN/USD-3 system did not enter operational service.”
Source: http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/sd-3.html
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
