of the fin. Flaps were fitted to the inner half of the trailing edge for use during takeoff. Additional stability and control in pitch was provided by small trapezoidal canard foreplanes near the nose of the fuselage. To launch the missile, the carrier vessel had to surface and deploy the missile and launch apparatus, which consisted of a zero length launcher. Once deployed, the missile had to be linked to the submarine or ship's navigation system to align the inertial navigation system and input target co-ordinates. With the navigation system ready and launch authorisation given, the missile engine would be run-up to full power with afterburner and the large solid-fuelled rocket booster ignited, immediately the missile would leave the zero length launcher and continue to the target autonomously. Regulus Target Drones Suitable missiles from the development program and production line were converted to supersonic target drones as the KD2U-1, later redesignated as the MQM-15A and GQM-15A. These targets were used for training of BOMARC surface-to-air missile crews firing from Santa Rosa Island, Florida, and controlled by the Montgomery Air Defense Sector, Gunter Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama. The KD2U-1 targets were launched from the Eglin Gulf Test Range base near Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. Drone flights at Eglin commenced on 3 September 1959, making 46 flights with 13 missiles. After the BOMARC tests the remaining missiles were moved to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico by 30 September 1961, where flights were begun to test Tartar, Terrier, and Talos surface-to-air missiles. Upon completion of the testing in Puerto Rico in 1963, the Regulus II drones were moved to NAS Point Mugu, California, where they remained in use until December 1965. Variants SSM-N-9 Regulus II The basic designation of the missile, pre-1964. SSM-N-9a Regulus II The designation of production missiles, pre-1964. XRSSM-N-9 Regulus II Prototype missiles fitted with retractable landing gear for land based development flights, powered by Wright J65 turbojet engines and Aerojet General booster rockets. XRSSM-N-9a Prototype missiles fitted with retractable landing gear for land based development flights, powered by General Electric J79 turbojet engines and Rocketdyne booster rockets. YTSSM-N-9a Development Training missiles with retractable landing gear. TSSM-N-9a Production training missiles with retractable landing gear. KD2U-1Pre-1962 designation of the target drone version of the Regulus II RQM-15A KD2U-1Regulus II target re-designated in April 1963. MQM-15A KD2U-1 Target drones used for research and as targets for the IM-99 Bomarc SAM.