The W42 was an American nuclear fission weapon developed in 1957. In December 1957 the Army requested the Atomic Energy Commission to develop a nuclear warhead for the HAWK low- to medium-altitude surface-to-air missile. In July 1958 the military characteristics were approved for the new warhead and the design released. Two months later the requirement for a HAWK with a nuclear warhead was cancelled. The warhead was briefly considered for the AAM-N-10 Eagle long-range air-to-air missile The dimensions of the warhead were wide by long. It weighed and used a proximity fuze. The project was cancelled in June 1961. References Citations Bibliography Nuclear weapons of the United States Military equipment introduced in the 1950s