Nike-Hercules Rocket

The Nike-Hercules is another weapon of the United States Army. The main function
of this surface-to-air missile is to intercept attacking enemy bombers, but the
Army has demonstrated that it can also be used to knock down incoming air-to-ground
missiles.

This air-defense rocket is 39 feet long and has a diameter of a little over 2 1/2 feet.
Its range is 80 miles, and its speed is approximately 2200 miles per hour.

The two-stage Nike-Hercules can be equipped with either nuclear or high-explosive
warheads.

Many of our large metropolitan areas were ringed with Army Nike-Hercules
installations to protect them from surprise attack by air.