Republic SD-3 Snooper
Republic Aviation · United States · first flew 1959 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Republic SD-3 Snooper was an early reconnaissance drone developed by Republic Aviation for the United States Army.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 4.65 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-boom configuration with a single pusher engine
- Continental IO-200 horizontally opposed piston engine
- Interchangeable nose section for television, photographic, infrared or radar payloads
It was launched from a zero-length launcher with two solid-fuel rocket boosters, flew for up to 30 minutes, and landed by parachute with airbags cushioning the airframe.
Specifications
- The Republic SD-3 Snooper has a length of 4.65 m (15 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 3.4 m (11 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 483 km/h (300 mph).
- Typical crew: 0.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Republic's Guided Missiles Division won a competition in 1957 for a short-range reconnaissance drone. The SD-3 was revealed to the press in late 1958 and first flew in January 1959.
Variants
Fifty pre-production aircraft were ordered by the Army to conduct a full evaluation.
Where you'll see it
The Army Signal Corps evaluated it in 1959, but the Army cancelled the programme after the trials, and it did not enter operational service. Its twin-boom pusher layout became common in later unmanned aircraft.
Related aircraft
- Republic F-105 Thunderchief
- Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet
- Republic P-47D Thunderbolt (Bubble-top)
- Aerojet SD-2 Overseer
- Dassault MD 410 Spirale
- Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
- HAL HAOP-27 Krishak
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.