Convair built the first prototype using its own funds, but the company received an official development contract from the United States Air Force on 16 August 1954.

[1] As initially envisioned by the Air Force, one B-36 in the-then typical three-plane attack formation would be filled with up to seven GAM-71s apportioned within its three bomb bays.

In February 1955, unpowered glide tests of XGAM-71 prototypes began using a modified B-29 Superfortress as the mothership.

A total of seven flights were conducted before the program was cancelled in January 1956, an event that researcher Dennis Jenkins attributes to the B-36's anticipated phase-out by decade's end.

[2] Data from Magnesium Overcast;[3] The Evolution of the Cruise Missile[4] Parsch 2007[5]General characteristics Performance