The F-106A was an all-weather interceptor fighter developed as an advanced version of the previous F-102A Delta Dagger
, and was originally called the F-102B. Equipped with the J75 engine, which had 50% more thrust than the J57
engine installed in the F-102 , the F-106 grew into a Mach 2 interceptor.
The biggest feature of the F-106 was its fire control system, which was equipped with the Hughes MA-1 digital computer, which was integrated
with the semi-automated intercept system of the US mainland at the time, SAGE, giving it an advanced intercept capability that was close to fully automated. Of course, the radar and navigation equipment were also state-of-the-art, and it had extremely advanced all-weather capabilities.
The main armament was missiles, and since there was a missile bay in the center of the fuselage, the missiles could be mounted without being exposed, so
there was no restriction on speed. The missiles carried were one unguided AIM-2 Genie missile with a 1.5KT nuclear warhead and four AIM-4F/G Super Falcons
(a mix of infrared homing and semi-active homing), but it seems that the Genie was rarely carried.
