Intended for use by the U.S. Army Signal Corps to gather targeting information for tactical ballistic missiles, it was cancelled before the first prototype could be completed, and did not see operational service.

[1] Given the full designation AN/USD-5 for its overall system,[2] the SD-5 was of tailless delta configuration,[3] with power provided by a Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojet (the military version of the civilian JT12 engine);[4] a single rocket booster of the jet-assisted takeoff type, giving 40,000 lbf (180 kN) thrust for 3 seconds, allowed for zero length launch from a specially-designed trailer.

[1] The first flight of the SD-5 took place in May 1960;[2] fifteen prototypes were constructed for the test program, with Fairchild quoting a cost per drone of $350,000-$400,000 USD for production aircraft.

[5] An operational date of 1964 was anticipated; however, due to the cost of the program, the SD-5 was cancelled in November 1962 before entering service.

[2] Data from Parsch 2004[2]General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era