Convair’s Ultimate Interceptor
Following the disappointing performance of the F-102 Delta Dagger, Convair’s engineers began working on an improved version of their delta-wing interceptor, resulting in an aircraft which was visually very similar to the F-102, but had very little in common in the design itself at a deeper level. The wing sweep deepened to 60 degrees, the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer was swept back, and the entire fuselage was lengthened to fit a larger internal weapons bay capable of fitting multiple AIM-2 Genie Nuclear Air-to-Air missiles in a clean configuration.