Although it proved successful in testing and was ordered into large-scale production, the arrival of the guided missile as a practical and reliable weapon resulted in the cancellation of the Gimlet rocket in 1957.

[1] Work on the rocket was conducted at the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at China Lake, California, and the project was begun at the behest of North American Aviation.

[4] The rocket would use a modified version of the FFAR's fuse, reduced in size to fit the smaller rocket;[2] the warhead used for Gimlet took advantage of the latest advancements in explosives technology, and, combined with the advanced fuse, would detonate inside the target aircraft, instead of upon contact.

[5] The rocket used a thin-walled aluminum body, also based on FFAR work;[2] the motor used an eight-point star configuration to ensure even burning.

[7] In the initial test, a FJ-2 Fury shot down a F6F Hellcat target drone, proving the rocket's effectiveness in the air-to-air role.