What was the only air-to-air weapon with a nuclear warhead?

Short answer

Douglas's AIR-2 Genie (formerly MB-1) was an unguided air-to-air rocket with a 1.5 kt W25 nuclear warhead. The USAF deployed it from 1957 to 1985, and Canada used it from 1965 to 1984, first with the RCAF and then with Air Command. Only one was detonated live, during Operation Plumbbob, July 19, 1957.

Published: November 5, 2026 · Updated: November 5, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

What was the only air-to-air weapon with a nuclear warhead?

AIR-2A GenieBoevaya mashina (CC BY SA), vía commons

From a Douglas study to an unguided rocket

In 1954, Douglas Aircraft launched a program to study the feasibility of an air-to-air weapon with a nuclear warhead. That effort produced the AIR-2 Genie, initially designated MB-1: an unguided air-to-air rocket carrying a 1.5 kt W25 nuclear warhead. Doing without guidance was possible because the blast's large radius made fine accuracy unnecessary. Aiming, arming, and firing the rocket were coordinated by the launching aircraft's fire control system.

A twelve-second shot

The Genie was powered by a Thiokol SR49-TC-1 solid-fuel rocket motor, with enough thrust to accelerate it to Mach 3.3. Total flight time was about 12 seconds, during which the rocket covered 10 km (6.2 mi).

Nearly three decades in service

The United States Air Force kept it deployed from 1957 to 1985, and Canada used it during the Cold War with the Royal Canadian Air Force between 1965 and 1968 and with Air Command between 1968 and 1984. Production ended in 1962, after more than 3,000 units were built. A live Genie was detonated only once, during Operation Plumbbob, on July 19, 1957.