US Army

Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

Martin Marietta AGR-14 ZAP

In 1966, the U.S. Navy issued the HART (Hypervelocity Aircraft Rocket, Tactical) requirement for a high-speed air-launched unguided flak-suppression rocket as a replacement for existing 70 mm (2.75 in) and Zuni 12.7 cm (5 in) air-to-ground rockets. With a very rapid initial acceleraton and a speed of Mach 3, HART was to eliminate the risk for a high-speed launch aircraft to overtake its own rockets it just fired, and to achieve a higher accuracy by the straighter trajectory.

A contract was awarded to Martin Marietta (Orlando), who began to develop the AGR-14 ZAP (Zero Anti-Aircraft Potential) rocket in 1967/68. In November 1969, the first XAGR-14A test rockets were launched from underwing pods on A-4 Skyhawk aircraft. However, the HART/ZAP program was cancelled soon after, probably in the 1970/71 time frame. The ZAP was powered by a Thiokol solid-propellant rocket motor, and was to be equipped with special air-bursting anti-personnel warheads for high efficiency against anti-aircraft sites.

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

Data for XAGR-14A:

[1] R.T. Pretty, D.H.R. Archer (eds.): "Jane's Weapon Systems 1970-71", McGraw-Hill, 1970
[2] James J. Haggerty (ed.): "1970 United States Aircraft, Missiles and Spacecraft", National Aerospace Education Council, 1970
[3] "DOD 4120.15-L: Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles", Department of Defense, 1974

Manufacturer: Martin Marietta.