[1] Even if detected at long distances, these aircraft would be traveling so fast that the carrier-borne interceptors simply would not have enough time to launch and attack them before they had closed with the carriers.

But given the short loiter times of high-performance aircraft like the F-4 Phantom, this would require huge fleets of fighters in order to keep a top cover in place while others were refueling.

Additionally, they specified a side-by-side layout so both the pilot and co-pilot could concentrate on a single, centered radar display, avoiding duplication of equipment and helping reduce communications errors that could occur if they were looking at different screens.

Since dogfighting was out of the question, the aircraft was strictly subsonic and did not require all-round visibility, suggesting a cockpit layout similar to the Grumman A-6 Intruder.

[3] The process formally started in December 1958 when Bendix was awarded a contract to develop the AAM-N-10 Eagle missile system[4][5] After launch, the Eagle was boosted to Mach 3.5 by a large solid-propellant rocket booster, and then after a glide period, a long-burning sustainer motor slowly increased speed to Mach 4.5.

[2] Using a lofted trajectory that flew up and over the targets at high altitudes, the missile had an effective range of 160 miles (260 km).

[6] To support the fighters, an improved early warning radar aircraft was needed, and Grumman won the contract with the W2F Hawkeye.

During that time, its slow speed and lack of dogfighting ability would make it an easy target for any escorting forces in the strike package.

These arguments eventually won out, and, when combined with a desire to cut military spending in pursuit of a balanced budget, led to the cancellation of the F6D in December 1961.

Around this time, the Air Force had been studying its own interceptor needs and had made some progress on their North American XF-108 Rapier design, along with supporting radars and missiles.

Although the F-108 was cancelled at about the same time as the Missileer,[2] the Air Force was interested in keeping the weapons and radar programs alive for their Lockheed F-12 interceptor project.

[12] Of conventional design with straight wings, and the engines in pods at the root, it resembled a larger version of the company's earlier F3D Skyknight.

The Missileer's radar was to be the Westinghouse AN/APQ-81 pulse Doppler set, with a range of 138 miles (222 km) and "track while scan" capability.

[13] Data from The American Fighter [8]General characteristics Performance Armament Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era