RIM-8 Talos

Go Back to Surface-to-Air Missile

Go Back To Weapons Home

	Weapon: RIM-8 Talos Type: Surface-to-Air Missile Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1958 Caliber: 710mm W30 Nuclear Warhead Action: Radar Beam Riding Overall Length (mm): 11600.0 Overall Length (in): 456.69 Weight (kg): 3000.00 Weight (pounds): 6613.87 Effective Range (km): 130 Effective Range (miles): 80.78

The RIM-8 Talos was a long-range surface-to-air missile developed by the United States Navy in the late 1940s and 1950s as part of its first generation of naval missile defense systems. Designed around a ramjet propulsion system for sustained high-speed flight, the Talos was capable of engaging both high-altitude bombers and, in later variants, surface targets. At over 11 meters (37 feet) in length, it was one of the largest surface-to-air missiles ever fielded, requiring specialized twin-rail launchers and magazine storage aboard guided missile cruisers.

Production of the Talos began in the mid-1950s, with approximately 600 missiles built across multiple versions. It first entered service in 1959 aboard USS Galveston and other converted cruisers, later being deployed on the larger Albany-class guided missile cruisers. Talos saw operational use during the Vietnam War, where it achieved several combat kills against North Vietnamese MiG aircraft, demonstrating its effectiveness as a long-range fleet defense weapon. It could carry either a conventional high-explosive warhead or a nuclear payload, giving it a deterrence role as well.

Despite its power and notoriety as one of the most advanced missile systems of its era, the RIM-8 Talos was eventually phased out by the late 1970s. Its massive size and logistical demands made it less practical compared to newer missile systems like the RIM-67 Standard, which offered similar capabilities in a much smaller package. Nevertheless, the Talos represented a critical technological milestone in U.S. naval air defense, proving the viability of long-range guided missile systems in protecting carrier groups and shaping future missile development.