Overseer Credit - via Andreas Parsch

Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

Aerojet General SD-2/MQM-58 Overseer

In 1957, the Rheem Manufacturing Co. developed the surveillance drone for the U.S. Army's AN/USD-2 drone surveillance system. The drone itself was usually known as SD-2, but was sometimes also referred to as AN/USD-2, which was more properly the designation of the whole surveillance system, including ground equipment. Rheem's defense business was purchased in 1959 by Aerojet General, who developed a slightly improved version of the SD-2 as the Overseer drone.

The Overseer was a propeller-driven aircraft, which was launched by two solid-fueled rocket boosters from a zero-length launcher mounted on a V-260/USD truck. After completion of its mission, it was landed by a parachute recovery system. The Overseer's equipment included an AN/AAD-2 infrared sensor, and a realtime data transmission system. The SD-2 was reportedly also used to test the AN/DPD-2 side-looking radar.

In June 1963, the SD-2 Overseer drone was designated as MQM-58A. I have little information about the operational career of the MQM-58A, and it's possible that it never became fully operational with the U.S. Army. In any case, it was no longer used at the end of the 1960s.

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for MQM-58A:

[1] Frederick I. Ordway III, Ronald C. Wakeford: "International Missile and Spacecraft Guide", McGraw-Hill, 1960
[2] Norman J. Bowman: "The Handbook of Rockets and Guided Missiles", Perastadion Press, 1963

Manufacturer: Aerojet. Boost engine: Reciprocating. Guidance: Command Link.