Editing SSM-N-8 Regulus (section)

==== Development ====
Development of such a missile began with [[Grumman]]'s [[SSM-N-6 Rigel]] and the [[Applied Physics Laboratory|Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory's]] [[SSM-N-2 Triton]]. However, work did not begin in earnest until August of 1947, days after the [[United States Army Air Forces|United States Army Air Force]] awarded a contract for the ground-based [[MGM-1 Matador]] [[cruise missile]]. The Navy, not wanting to lose its edge in missile development, began Project Regulus with the same equipment used in the Matador. On  17 November 1947, a contract was awarded to Chance Vought, which previously investigated a similar project as part of a study on "pilotless missiles". The company, desperate for government contracts as the money-making [[Vought F4U Corsair|F4U Corsair]] production line was nearing an end, focused on a practical design that could be brought into service quickly. With its survival at stake, the company invested heavily in [[research and development]], drawing from experience with jet fighter projects such as the [[Vought XF5U|XF5U Flying Flapjack]], [[Vought F6U Pirate|F6U Pirate]], and [[Vought F7U Cutlass|F7U Cutlass]]. The Navy initially planned on having each missile be operational in a sequential order, starting with the simple Regulus and ending with the more complex but capable Triton in 1960. However, both the Rigel and Triton were powered by [[Ramjet|ramjets]], which presented a significant challenge as the technology was too immature for immediate use, eventually leading to both programs' cancellation.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Stumpf |first=David |title=Regulus: The Forgotten Weapon |publisher=[[Turner Publishing Company]] |isbn=978-1563112775 |publication-date=January 1, 1997}}</ref>{{Rp|page=51}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Evolution of the Cruise Missile |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA162646.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250202113644/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA162646.pdf |archive-date=2025-02-02 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=apps.dtic.mil}}</ref>{{Rp|page=114, 117}}