Editing Lockheed X-7 (section)

==Purpose==
The X-7 laid the foundation for the AQM-60 Kingfisher.<ref name=":13" />  Being the testbed for several yearlong projects, the X-7 underwent many structural changes to adapt more closely for its intended purpose.<ref name=":13" />  The Kingfisher was put up against three surface to air missiles designed to test the capabilities of the X-7; SAM-A-7/[[MIM-3 Nike Ajax|MIM-3 ''Nike Ajax'']], SAM-A-25/[[Nike Hercules|MIM-14 ''Nike Hercules'']], and [[CIM-10 Bomarc|IM-99/CIM-10 ''Bomarc'']] were the missiles used in the tests.<ref>Facing the Heat Barrier: A History of Hypersonics, T. A. Heppenheimer, P.65</ref>  During the testing of the SAMs, the X-7 outperformed the missiles and a very small number of critical hits were achieved.<ref name=":06" />  Due to pressure and embarrassment of the military, the X-7 project was terminated in the mid-1960s.<ref name=":06" />

Besides the surface to air missile tests, the X-7 project was also used to test communication equipment for acceleration tests, testing aerodynamics, booster propellants, thermodynamics, and parachutes.<ref name=":06" />
[[File:X-7_Prepared_for_Loading.jpg|thumb|Lockheed X-7A-1 being prepared for loading and test flight. The white section is the booster. (B-50 seen in background)]]