North American RA-5C Vigilante

The North American RA‑5C Vigilante was a supersonic carrier‑based aircraft developed by North American Aviation in the 1950s for the United States Navy. Originally conceived as a nuclear‑strike bomber, the prototype XA‑5 first flew in 1958 and demonstrated unprecedented speed, reaching Mach 1.8 at altitude. When the Navy abandoned the nuclear strike role, the airframe was repurposed as a high‑performance reconnaissance platform, resulting in the RA‑5C variant that entered service in 1963. The Vigilante’s distinctive features included a long, slender fuselage, a variable‑geometry wing, and a powerful Pratt & Whitney J75 turbo‑jet capable of producing 35,000 lbf of thrust. Its integrated camera suite, side‑looking airborne radar, and electronic‑signal‑intelligence equipment made it one of the most sophisticated photo‑reconnaissance systems of the Cold War era. The aircraft also incorporated advanced avionics such as an analog fire‑control computer and a digital data‑link for real‑time tactical reporting. Over 500 Vigilantes served in Vietnam, providing crucial intelligence that shaped strike planning and naval operations. Although retired in 1979, the RA‑5C’s blend of speed, altitude capability, and sensor integration left a lasting legacy, influencing the design of later carrier‑based reconnaissance and strike aircraft.

North American Aviation

North American RA-5C Vigilante

Classification

Design & Classification