The Hughes "MA-1" System

In 1948 Howard Hughes created a new division of his company, the Aerospace Group.

Two Hughes engineers, Simon Ramo and Dean Wooldridge, had new ideas on the packaging of electronics to make complete fire control systems. Their MA-1 system combined signals from the aircraft's radar with an analog computer to automatically guide the interceptor aircraft into the proper position for firing missiles. At the same time other teams were working with the newly formed US Air Force on air-to-air missiles, delivering the AIM-4 Falcon, then known as the F-98. The MA-1/Falcon package, with several upgrades, was the primary interceptor weapon system in the US for many years, lasting into the 1980s.

Ramo and Wooldridge, having failed to reach an agreement with Howard Hughes regarding management problems, resigned in September 1953. They founded the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation, later to join Thompson Products to form TRW, another aerospace company and a major competitor to Hughes Aircraft.

The F-106 used a Hughes MA-1 weapons and electronic guidance and fire control system. The entire MA-1 system consisted of the F-106 airframe, the Falcon missiles, Gene nuclear rocket, and all onboard computers, radar, and communications systems. With the exceptions of the F-106 aircraft itself and the Gene rocket, every thing was manufactured by Hughes Electronics Corporation.

After takeoff, the MA-1 system could be given control of the aircraft by the pilot to fly it to the proper altitude and attack position with the enemy. Then it could fire the Genie rocket and Falcon missiles, and afterwards it would break off the attack run, and return the aircraft to the vicinity of its base. The pilot would then take control of aircraft again for the landing.

Radar Scope Displays During An Intercept The scope displays show a Data Link Controlled Intercept event sequence.
Hughes MA-1 "Digitair" The MA-1, a high-capacity digital computer, was designed to be digitally datalinked to the SAGE and was composed of 200 black electronic metal black boxes packed with thousands of tiny electronic parts and almost thirteen kilometers (eight miles) of wiring. All together it weighed 1145 kg (2520 lbs). The electronics were wrapped completely around the pilot except over him. It included automatic datalink reception and automatic flight control for navigation. Continuous position determination through the TACAN (tactical air navigation) station and automatic navigation to any of several reselected waypoints were possible. After takeoff, the system could fly the F-106 to the target, launch the missiles, monitor the return trip to base, and return controls to the pilot just before landing. The pilot could follow his progress on a round 20-cm (eight inch) tactical situation display that showed film strips of approaching air navigation maps. Each strip showed all major ground references up to about a 650-km (350-nm/400-mi) radius of the operations base. The strips could be changed when the F-106s operated from different bases. A small black delta wing symbol with a needle nose (the "bug") was superimposed on the map to indicate the position of the aircraft. The current range of the aircraft was represented by a circle on the map centered on the "bug." Under SAGE, the target was represented by an "X" bisected with an arrow. The navigation system could turn the aircraft on to an attack course, and markers on the radar scope approximated the range, azimuth, and elevation of the target. Once the target was obtained, the pilot could compelete the interception without SAGE. The firing order of the aircraft's armament was selected by the pilot. A circle on the radar scope marked where the target was estimated to be, and when it came within radar range, a blip appeared marking its position.
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The D/L TGT CIRCLE is positioned automatically by Data Link from SAGE and shows the estimated range and azimuth angle of the target relative to the interceptor. The target appears inside the D/L Circle as the B-SWEEP paints across it.	The pilot uses his hand control to "spotlight" the target for Max return strength while positioning the Range Gate over it. The left side of the pilot's stick is moved left & right to control the Radar Antenna in azimuth. Elevation angle is controlled by a thumbwheel. Range Gate position is controlled by forward & backward movement. A tricky business.	When the Range Gate and Target are in coincidence, Radar LOCK-ON is achieved. Automatic Radar range and positional tracking is established and the ATTACK DISPLAY is presented on the pilot's scope.

JUDY is the "Lock on Achieved" pilot call. The D/L TGT CIRCLE dims and disappears and a large RANGE / TIME CIRCLE with a STEERING CIRCLE and STEERING DOT appears.	JUDY is the "Lock on Achieved" pilot call. The D/L TGT CIRCLE dims and disappears and a large RANGE / TIME CIRCLE with a STEERING CIRCLE and STEERING DOT appears .ows altitude differential of the target. Artificial Horizon shows interceptor attitude	The Range / Time Circle shrinks in size as the Weapons System prepares the armament for launch. Pilot strives to center the steering dot with wings near level just prior to the fire signal. Pilot's trigger must be depressed to launch live armament. SPLASH is the pilot's call as he breaks away.

	The large X marks the Fire Signal. The X display element quickly turns into the 8 BALL ... a large figure eight which is the PULLOUT WARNING signal.
Courtesy of Steve Shipton

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The 200 black boxes of the MA-1 system. The missiles standing on their tails are AIM-4F radar-guided Super Falcons and the missiles in the foreground are AIM-4G IR-guided Super Falcons. Also notice the IRST on the F-106's nose.	An F-106 as seen head on with the ray-dome removed exposing the radar antenna and the side electronics bay doors open.	Right side of radar mount and right avionics bay.

Radar Antenna as seen from the left front	The right avionics bay directly behind the radar antenna and ray-dome.	The left avionics bay showing much of the Hughes MA-1 and radar and fire control system.