View source for Convair F-102 Delta Dagger

{{Short description|Cold War interceptor of the US Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = F-102 Delta Dagger
| image = File:Convair YF-102 FC-782.jpg
| caption = YF-102 prototype
| type = [[Interceptor aircraft]]
| manufacturer = [[Convair]]
| designer =
| first_flight = 24 October 1953
| introduction = April 1956
| retired = 1979{{refn|The USAF retired its F-102s from service in 1976, followed by both Greece and Turkey in 1979. The USAF F-102s remained as target drones until 1986.|group=N}}
| number_built = 1,000
| primary_user = [[United States Air Force]]
| more_users = [[Hellenic Air Force]]<br />[[Turkish Air Force]]
| status =
| unit cost = US$1.2&nbsp;million<ref name="knaack p169">Knaack 1978, p. 169.</ref>
| developed_from = [[Convair XF-92]]
| variants =
| developed_into = [[Convair F-106 Delta Dart]]
}}

The '''Convair F-102 Delta Dagger'''{{refn|It appears that the aircraft was originally intended to be named '''Machete''';<ref>''Aircraft Recognition Manual, Supplement No. 5 (Army Field Manual), Volume FM 30-30, June 1954, p. 11.'' Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Defense.</ref> it is unclear when the Delta Dagger name was adopted.|group=N}} is an [[interceptor aircraft]] designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer [[Convair]]. A member of the [[Century Series]], the F-102 was the first operational [[supersonic]] interceptor and [[Delta wing|delta-wing]] fighter operated by the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF).

The F-102 was designed in response to a requirement, known as the ''1954 Ultimate Interceptor'', produced by USAF officials during the late 1940s. Its main purpose was to be the backbone of American air defences and to intercept approaching [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[strategic bomber]] fleets (primarily the [[Tupolev Tu-95]]) during the [[Cold War]]. The aircraft was designed alongside a sophisticated [[fire-control system]] (FCS); however, a simplified unit had to be adopted due to development difficulties. It used an internal weapons bay to carry both guided missiles and rockets. On 23 October 1953, the prototype YF-102 performed its [[maiden flight]]; however, it was destroyed in an accident only nine days later. The second prototype allowed flight testing to resume three months later, but results were disappointing: as originally designed, the aircraft could not achieve [[Mach number|Mach]]&nbsp;1 [[Supersonic speed#Supersonic flight|supersonic flight]].

To improve its performance prior to quantity production commencing, the F-102 was redesigned, its fuselage was reshaped in accordance with the [[area rule]] while a thinner and wider wing was also adopted. Flight testing demonstrated sufficient performance improvements for the USAF to be persuaded to permit its production; a new production contract was signed during March 1954. Following its entry to USAF service in 1956, the F-102 promptly replaced various [[Subsonic aircraft|subsonic]] fighter types, such as the [[Northrop F-89 Scorpion]], in the interceptor role. The ''F-102C'' tactical attack model, equipped with several improvements, including a more powerful engine and Gatling gun, was proposed but not ultimately pursued. A total of 1,000 F-102s were built, both for the USAF and a handful of export customers, including the [[Hellenic Air Force]] and the [[Turkish Air Force]].

By the 1960s, USAF F-102s had participated in a limited capacity in the [[Vietnam War]] as a [[Escort fighter|bomber escort]] and even in the [[Close air support|ground-attack]] role. The aircraft was supplemented by [[McDonnell F-101 Voodoo]]s and, later on, by [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]]s. Over time, many F-102s were retrofitted with [[Infra-red search and track|infrared search/tracking systems]], [[radar warning receiver]]s, transponders, backup [[artificial horizon]]s, and modified fire-control systems. Throughout the mid-to-late 1960s, many USAF F-102s were transferred from the active duty Air Force to the [[United States Air National Guard|Air National Guard]], and, with the exception of those examples converted to unmanned ''QF-102'' Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) drones, the type was totally retired from operational service in 1976. Its principal successor in the interceptor role was the Mach 2-capable [[Convair F-106 Delta Dart]], which was an extensive redesign of the F-102.

==Design and development==

===Background===
[[File:Convair YF-102 53-1785 on Ramp E-2550.jpg|thumb|upright|The YF-102 with its original fuselage]]

On 8 October 1948, the board of senior officers of the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) issued recommendations that the service organize a competition for a new interceptor scheduled to enter service in 1954; as such, the all-new design would initially be dubbed the "1954 Ultimate Interceptor".<ref>Donald 1997, p. 207.</ref> Four months later, on 4 February 1949, the USAF approved the recommendation and prepared to hold a corresponding competition during the following year.<ref name = "Becker p.68">Becker 2012, p. 68.</ref> In November 1949, the USAF decided that the new aircraft would be built around a [[fire-control system]] (FCS). The FCS was to be designed before the airframe to ensure compatibility.<ref name="Donald p.68-9">Donald 2003, pp. 68–69.</ref><ref name = "Becker p.689">Becker 2012, pp. 68-69.</ref> The airframe and FCS together were called the weapon system.

In January 1950, the USAF's [[Air Force Logistics Command|Air Materiel Command]] issued [[request for proposal]]s (RFPs) to 50 companies for the FCS, of which 18 responded. By May, the list was revised downward to 10. Meanwhile, a board at the U.S. Department of Defense headed by [[Major General]] [[Gordon P. Saville]] reviewed the proposals, and distributed some to the [[Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force|George E. Valley]]-led Air Defense Engineering Committee. Following recommendations by the committee to the Saville Board, the proposals were further reduced to two competitors, [[Hughes Aircraft]] and [[North American Aviation]]. Although the Valley Committee thought it was best to award the contract to both companies, Hughes was chosen by Saville and his team on 2 October 1950.<ref name="Donald p.69">Donald 2003, pp. 69, 228.</ref><ref name = "Becker p.69">Becker 2012, p. 69.</ref>

In June 1950, the requirement for the airframe was formally issued; during January 1951, six aircraft manufacturers submitted nine responses.<ref name = "Becker p.69"/> On 2 July 1954, three of the responding companies, Convair, [[Republic Aviation|Republic]], and [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]], were authorised to proceed with the building of a mockup. Upon completion, the three designs would be competitively reviewed, the best of which would lead to the awarding of a single production contract under the name ''Project MX-1554''. Prior to this requirement, Convair had performed considerable early research into delta-winged aircraft and had experimented with various different designs, two of which fell under the name ''P-92''.<ref name = "Becker p.6668">Becker 2012, pp. 66-68.</ref> For the era, Convair's submitted design was relatively unorthodox, not only in terms of the delta wing configuration but the decision to carry all munitions within an internal weapons bay to reduce [[Drag (physics)#Aerodynamics|drag]]; despite this, Republic's design was even more radical, proposing to use [[ramjet]] propulsion to attain speeds in excess of Mach 3.<ref name = "Becker p.69"/>

===Selection===
Ultimately, Convair's design emerged as the front runner for the requirement, which was officially designated ''XF-102''. Lockheed had chosen to drop out to concentrate on other opportunities while Republic's design had been judged to involve too much technical risk to meet the 1954 deadline for service entry, thus was disqualified, making Convair the de facto winner.<ref name="Donald p.69"/><ref name="Becker p.6970">Becker 2012, pp. 69-70.</ref> The development of three different designs has been considered to be too expensive to proceed with, thus only Convair was permitted to do so in November 1951.<ref name = "Becker p.72">Becker 2012, p. 72.</ref> From an early stage, USAF officials had decided to use the Cook-Craigie Plan for the aircraft's manufacturing; under this concept, production tooling and facilities would be created while a small pre-production batch of aircraft would be completed, the aim being to eliminate the need for a lengthy prototype program, instead incorporating any changes required into the production line. However, if substantial modifications were necessary, re-tooling would then become necessary as well.<ref name = "Becker p.71">Becker 2012, p. 71.</ref> In December 1951, in order to accelerate the aircraft's development, it was proposed to equip the prototypes and pre-production aircraft with the less-powerful [[Westinghouse J40]] [[turbojet]].<ref name = "Becker p.70">Becker 2012, p. 70.</ref>

During early 1953, by which point construction of the first aircraft had reached an advanced stage, it had become clear that there were serious design challenges present, including [[wind tunnel]] testing that revealed early performance projections to have been overly optimistic.<ref name = "Becker p.7172">Becker 2012, pp. 71-72.</ref> Furthermore, there had been sustained delays to both the [[Curtiss-Wright J67]] engine, a licensed derivative of the [[Rolls-Royce Olympus|Bristol-Siddeley Olympus]] which was still in development,<ref name="Knaack p159-160">Knaack 1978, pp. 159–160.</ref> and the MA-1 (formerly ''MX-1179'') FCS;<ref name="Wegg p200">Wegg 2000, p. 200.</ref> to address the latter, decision makers opted to order an interim aircraft with the J40 and a simpler FCS (initially referred to as ''E-9'') into production as the ''F-102A''.<ref name = "Becker p.7071"/> The failure of the J40 led to the [[Pratt & Whitney J57]] turbojet with afterburner, rated with {{Convert|10000|lbf|kN}} of thrust,<ref name="Donald p.70">Donald 2003, p. 70.</ref> being substituted for the prototypes and F-102As.<ref name="Wegg p200-1">Wegg 2000, pp. 200–201.</ref><ref name="Knaack p160-1">Knaack 1978, pp. 160–161.</ref> This aircraft was intended to be temporary, pending the development of the more advanced F-102B, which would employ the more advanced J67. The F-102B would later evolve to become the F-106A, dubbed the "Ultimate Interceptor".<ref name="Donald p.70"/><ref name="Becker p.7071">Becker 2012, pp. 70-71.</ref>

On 23 October 1953, the ''YF-102'' prototype conducted its first flight from [[Edwards Air Force Base]], piloted by Convair's chief test pilot Richard L. Johnson.<ref name = "Becker p.7273">Becker 2012, pp. 72-73.</ref> Its flying career was very brief as it was lost in an accident only nine days later during a failed attempt to reach Mach 1. The accident, which was caused by severe buffeting, seriously injured Johnson.<ref name = "Becker p.73">Becker 2012, p. 73.</ref> The second aircraft flew on 11 January 1954, confirming a dismal performance. [[Transonic]] [[Drag (aerodynamics)#Drag in aerodynamics|drag]] was much higher than expected, and the aircraft was limited to Mach&nbsp;0.98 (i.e. subsonic), with a ceiling of 48,000&nbsp;ft (14,630&nbsp;m), far below the requirements.<ref name="Knaack p163-4">Knaack 1978, pp. 163–164.</ref>

===Major redesign===
[[File:Convair YF-102A on ramp E-2551.jpg|thumb|upright|YF-102A with pinched "area rule" fuselage, narrower canopy and redesigned intakes]]

During mid 1953, Convair concluded that it needed to take action to address the F-102's shortcomings to prevent its cancellation, and promptly embarked on a major redesign effort.<ref name = "Becker p.7273"/> It was decided to incorporate the recently discovered [[Whitcomb area rule|area rule]], the application of which simultaneously simplified both production and maintenance of the aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |last1 = Baals |first1 = Donald D. |title = WIND TUNNELS OF NASA. Chapter 5 - The Era of High-Speed Flight. The Area Rule and the F-102 Story |url = https://history.nasa.gov/SP-440/ch5-10.htm |website = history.nasa.gov |publisher = US Library of Congress, Supt. of Docs. no.: NAS 1.21:440 |access-date = 16 July 2014 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130607031028/http://history.nasa.gov/SP-440/ch5-10.htm |archive-date = 7 June 2013}}</ref> This redesign entailed the lengthening of the fuselage by 11&nbsp;ft (3.35&nbsp;m), being "pinched" at the midsection (dubbed the "[[Coke bottle#Contour bottle design|Coke Bottle]] configuration"), with two large fairings on either side of the engine nozzle, with revised intakes and a new, narrower canopy. A more powerful model of the J57 was installed while the aircraft structure was also lightened.<ref name="Gunston F102 p513-4">Gunston 1957, pp. 513–514.</ref><ref name="Wegg p201">Wegg 2000, p. 201.</ref>

In parallel to this effort, the wing was also redesigned to be both thinner and wider. The [[leading edge]] was reprofiled with a conical droop, with the apex at the root, as to improve handling at low speeds. Because the droop remained within the shock cone of the leading edge, the drag rise at supersonic speeds was minimal. A second, inboard fence was also added at the time.<ref>Mendenhall 1983, p. 27.</ref><ref>Jones, Lloyd S. ''U.S. Fighters'', Aero, 1975. pp. 272-274.</ref> A new canopy was also adopted while the tail was shifted slightly aft. The level of changes that could be implemented were restrained by the redesign having occurred at such an advanced stage of development.<ref name = "Becker p.74">Becker 2012, p. 74.</ref> Yet, the overall changes made were so substantial that two-thirds of the roughly 30,000 tools created to manufacture the YF-102 were scrapped or modified before quantity production had even commenced.<ref name = "Becker p.73"/>

On 20 December 1954, the first revised aircraft, designated ''YF-102A'', made its first flight only 118 days after work on the redesign had started.<ref name = "Becker p.74"/> The next day, it exceeded Mach&nbsp;1 for the first time.<ref name="Wegg p201"/><ref name = "Becker p.7475">Becker 2012, pp. 74-75.</ref> The revised design quickly demonstrated that it could attain a speed of Mach&nbsp;1.22 and a ceiling of 53,000&nbsp;ft (16,154&nbsp;m). These performance improvements were sufficient for the USAF to agree to procure the F-102; accordingly, a new production contract was signed during March 1954.<ref name="Knaack p166">Knaack 1978, p. 166.</ref> On 24 June 1955, the first flight of a production standard F-102 occurred.<ref name = "Becker p.75">Becker 2012, p. 75.</ref> From the 26th production aircraft onwards, a taller vertical tail with a 40 percent greater surface area was fitted to counteract flutter and a lack of directional control at high speeds; existing aircraft were also retrofitted with this change.<ref name = "Becker p.76">Becker 2012, p. 76.</ref>

===Further development===
[[File:Convair TF-102A Delta Dagger on lakebed.png|thumb|upright|left|A TF-102A, illustrating the widened cockpit]]

The production F-102A had the Hughes MC-3 FCS, which was later upgraded in service to the MG-10; it was used to locate enemy targets, steer interception courses, and control weapons deployment.<ref name = "Becker p.77">Becker 2012, p. 77.</ref> The F-102 was the first USAF fighter to be designed without a gun, instead relying on missiles as its primary armament.<ref name = "Becker p.76"/> It had a three-segment internal weapons bay under the fuselage for [[air-to-air missile]]s. Initial armament was three pairs of [[AIM-4 Falcon|GAR-1/2/3/4]] (''Later re-designated as AIM-4'') Falcon missiles, which included both [[infrared homing]] and [[semi-active radar homing]] variants. The doors of the two forward bays each had tubes for 12 [[Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket]]s (for a total of 24 "FFAR", with initially 2&nbsp;in (51&nbsp;mm) being fitted and later 2.75&nbsp;in (70&nbsp;mm) replacing them.<ref name = "Becker p.7677">Becker 2012, pp. 76-77.</ref> The F-102 was later upgraded to allow the carrying of up to two [[AIM-26 Falcon|GAR-11/AIM-26]] Nuclear Falcon missiles in the center bay.<ref name = "Becker p.8485">Becker 2012, pp. 84-85.</ref> The larger size of this weapon required redesigned center bay doors with no rocket tubes. Plans were considered to fit the [[AIR-2|MB-1 Genie]] nuclear rocket to the design, but although a Genie was test fired from a YF-102A in May 1956, it was never adopted.<ref name="Pea p34"/><ref name = "Becker p.85">Becker 2012, p. 85.</ref>

[[File:Convair F-102A MC-3 fire control system mock-up 060922-F-1234S-038.jpg|thumb|Hughes MC-3 fire control system and radar antenna]]
The F-102 received several major modifications during its operational lifetime, with most airframes being retrofitted with [[infra-red search and track]]ing systems, [[radar warning receiver]]s, transponders, backup [[artificial horizon]]s, and improvements to the [[fire control system]].<ref name="Taylor">"Taylor 1995, pp. 92–93.</ref><ref name = "Becker p.7879">Becker 2012, pp. 78-79.</ref> A proposed close-support version (never built) would have incorporated an internal [[Gatling gun]], and an extra two [[hardpoint]]s for bombs, supplementing the two underwing pylons all production F-102s were fitted with for [[drop tank]]s (the use of which reduced the craft to subsonic performance<ref>{{cite web|last1=Baugher|first1=Joseph F.|title=Convair F-102A Delta Dagger|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_1.html|website=JoeBaugher.com|publisher=Joseph F. Baugher|access-date=8 February 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105182346/http://joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_1.html |archive-date=2010-11-05 }}</ref>).  To alleviate this, bigger internal fuel tanks and an [[in-flight-refueling]] probe were fitted.<ref name="Taylor"/> 

In response to a USAF request for a specialized twin-seat trainer, Convair begun development of the TF-102A in April 1952.<ref name = "Becker p.79">Becker 2012, p. 79.</ref> The side-by-side seating design, popularized in the 1950s (and used with the American [[Cessna T-37]], British [[Hawker Hunter]] T.7 and [[English Electric Lightning]] T.4, among others), would require a redesign of the cockpit and a nose almost as wide as that of a Convair 340 commercial airliner. Development was put on hold despite being authorized on 16 April 1953 until issues with the fighter model were sufficiently addressed; the first firm order for the TF-102A was issued in July 1954, and a maiden flight made on 8 November 1955.<ref name = "Becker p.7980">Becker 2012, pp. 79-80.</ref> The new nose introduced buffeting, the source of which was traced to the bulbous canopy. Vortex generators were added to the top of the canopy to prevent the buffet which had started at about Mach 0.72.<ref name = "Schmidt p.95">Schmidt 1997, p. 95.</ref><ref name = "Becker p.81">Becker 2012, p. 81.</ref> The intake ducts were revised as the inlets were repositioned. Despite the many changes, the aircraft was combat-capable, although this variant was predictably slower, reaching only subsonic speeds in level flight.<ref>Gunston 1981, p. 26.</ref> A total of 111 TF-102As were eventually manufactured.<ref name = "Becker p.8182">Becker 2012, pp. 81-82.</ref> 

The numerous inherent design and technical limitations of the F-102 led to a proposed successor, initially known as the F-102B "Ultimate Interceptor". The improved design, in which the proposed Curtiss-Wright J67 jet engine was eventually replaced by a [[Pratt & Whitney J75]], underwent so many aerodynamic changes (including variable-geometry inlets) that it essentially became an entirely new aircraft and hence was redesignated and produced as the F-106 Delta Dart. Convair would also use a delta wing design in the Mach&nbsp;2 class [[Convair B-58 Hustler]] bomber.

==Operational history==

===Introduction to service===
In June 1956, operational use of the F-102A commenced, the first unit to be equipped with the type being the [[327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], which was initially based at [[George Air Force Base]].<ref name="Pea p34">Peacock 1986, p. 34.</ref><ref name = "Becker p.82">Becker 2012, p. 82.</ref> In June 1958, the 327th was redeployed to [[Thule Air Base]] on [[Greenland]], the USAF's northernmost base, which permitted the interception of Soviet aircraft at a greater distance from the continental United States.<ref name = "Becker p.83">Becker 2012, p. 83.</ref> Other overseas units, such as the [[United States Air Forces in Europe]] (USAFE) and the [[57th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], based at [[Keflavik]], [[Iceland]], would similarly adopt the type and as such used the F-102 in the interceptor role through into the early 1970s until it was displaced by the arrival of newer fighter aircraft.<ref name = "Becker p.8386">Becker 2012, pp. 83-86.</ref> Typical interceptions included Soviet long range reconnaissance flights and bomber patrols over the [[Atlantic Ocean]] along with various aircraft that were flying to and from [[Cuba]].<ref name = "Becker p.84">Becker 2012, p. 84.</ref>

The F-102's official name, "Delta Dagger", was never used in common parlance, with the aircraft being universally known as the "Deuce".<ref name = "Becker p.75"/> The TF-102 was known as the "Tub" because of its wider fuselage to accommodate its side-by-side twin seating arrangement.<ref name = "Becker p.80">Becker 2012, p. 80.</ref>

During the decades in which the F-102A was in service, several new wing designs were used to experiment with the application of increased conical camber to the wings. Ultimately, a design was selected that actually increased elevon area, reduced takeoff speed, improved the supersonic L/D ratio and increased the aircraft's ceiling to 56,000&nbsp;ft (17,069&nbsp;m). A modification was required to the landing gear doors due to the wing redesign.

By 1960, the [[Air Defense Command]] (ADC) had F-102 Delta Daggers in service. Throughout the 1960s, a considerable number of the ADC's TF-102s and F-102s were stationed at [[Perrin AFB]], Texas, for the purpose of training new F-102 pilots. They also provided platform training on flight characteristics of delta-winged aircraft for pilots who were destined to fly the B-58 Hustler bomber for the [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC).

The type continued to serve in large numbers with both Air Force and [[Air National Guard]] units well into the 1970s. [[George W. Bush]], later [[President of the United States]], flew the F-102 in the [[147th Reconnaissance Wing|147th Fighter Interceptor Group]] based at [[Ellington AFB]] in [[Houston, Texas]] as part of his [[Texas Air National Guard]] service from 1968 to 1972.<ref>[http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/gwbush/essays/biography/1 "George Walker Bush (1946– )."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211142602/http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/gwbush/essays/biography/1 |date=11 February 2010 }} ''millercenter.org.'' Retrieved: 27 October 2010.</ref>

===Vietnam War service===
The F-102 served in the Vietnam War, flying fighter patrols and serving as bomber escorts. A total of 14 aircraft were lost in Vietnam: one to air-to-air combat,<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 269.</ref> several to ground fire and the remainder to accidents.

Initially, F-102 detachments began to be sent to bases in Southeast Asia in 1962 after radar contacts detected by ground radars were thought to possibly be North Vietnamese [[Vietnam People's Air Force]] (VPAF) [[Ilyushin Il-28|Il-28 "Beagle"]] bombers {{ndash}} considered to be a credible threat in that time period. The F-102s were sent to Thailand and other nearby countries to intercept these aircraft if they threatened South Vietnam.<ref name = "Becker p.87">Becker 2012, p. 87.</ref>
[[File:F-102As 509FIS over Vietnam Nov1966.jpg|thumb|F-102As of the 509th FIS over Vietnam, November 1966. These aircraft wear standard Southeast Asia camouflage (T.O. 1-1-4).]]

Later on, [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress]] strikes, codenamed [[Operation Arc Light|"Arc Light"]], were escorted by F-102s based in the theater. It was during one of these missions that an F-102 was shot down by a VPAF [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21]] using an [[AA-2 Atoll]] [[heat-seeking missile]]. The MiGs approached undetected, and one of the F-102s was hit by an air-to-air missile, which did not explode immediately, but remained lodged in the aft end of the aircraft, causing stability problems. As the pilot reported the problem to his wingman, the wingman observed the damaged Delta Dagger explode in midair, killing the pilot.<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 271.</ref> This was the only air-to-air loss for the F-102 during the Vietnam War. The other F-102 pilot fired AIM-4 missiles at the departing MiG-21s, but no hit was recorded.

The F-102 was occasionally employed in the air-to-ground role with limited success, although neither the aircraft nor the training for its pilots were designed for that role. The [[509th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]]'s (FIS) Deuces arrived at [[Da Nang Air Base]] from [[Clark Air Base]], Philippines, on 4 August 1964.<ref>Poss, Don. [http://www.vspa.com/aspprotect/dn-1-july-1965-pg-15-1.asp "Yates, Ron: Vietnam Remembrances."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526044933/http://www.vspa.com/aspprotect/dn-1-july-1965-pg-15-1.asp |date=26 May 2011 }} ''vspa.com''. Retrieved: 27 October 2010.</ref> The interceptor was equipped with 24 2.75&nbsp;in (70&nbsp;mm) FFARs in the fuselage bay doors; these could be used to good effect against various types of North Vietnamese targets in daylight. At night, it proved less dangerous to use heat-seeking Falcon missiles in conjunction with the F-102's nose-mounted IRST (Infrared Search & Track), thus it often performed nighttime harassment raids along the [[Ho Chi Minh Trail]].<ref name = "Becker p.8889">Becker 2012, pp. 88-89.</ref> Some F-102As were configured to accommodate a single AIM-26 Super Falcon in each side bay in lieu of the two conventional AIM-4 Falcons. Operations with both the F-102A and TF-102A two-seaters (which were used in a Forward Air Control role because its two seats and 2.75&nbsp;in/70&nbsp;mm rockets offered good versatility for the mission) continued in Vietnam until 1968 when all F-102s were returned to the United States.
{|class="wikitable"
|+Summary of (14) USAF F-102 Delta Daggers lost in the Vietnam War 1964–1969
! style=width:130px; | Date
!F-102 model
!Unit
!Cause of loss/remarks
|-
|27 November 1964
|F-102A
|[[509th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron|509th FIS]]
|Engine failure.<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 13.</ref>
|-
|1 July 1965
|F-102A
|509th FIS
|(3) F-102As destroyed on the ground by enemy [[sappers]] at [[Da Nang Air Base]].<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 24.</ref>
|-
|15 December 1965
|F-102A
|509th FIS
|Downed by ground fire while providing close air support (CAS).<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 42.</ref>
|-
|19 August 1966
|F-102A
|509th FIS
|Operational loss, crashed during night landing.<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 71.</ref>
|-
|14 December 1966
|F-102A
|64th FIS
|Downed by [[small arms]] fire within 60 seconds after takeoff.<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 83.</ref>
|-
|15 January 1967
|TF-102A
|509th FIS
|Operational loss, ferry mission.<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 86.</ref>
|-
|2 April 1967
|F-102A
|509th FIS
|Operational loss, engine failure. Also served with 16th & 64th FIS.<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 94.</ref>
|-
|12 May 1967
|F-102A
|509th FIS
|Destroyed during enemy ground attack; [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] fire at [[Biên Hòa Air Base]].<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 100.</ref>
|-
|3 February 1968
|F-102A
|509th FIS
|Downed by [[MiG-21]] [[K-13 (missile)]] at {{convert|36,000|ft|m}}.<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 135.</ref>
|-
|16 July 1968
|F-102A
|509th FIS
|Operational loss, engine failure.<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 155.</ref>
|-
|16 September 1968
|F-102A
|509th FIS
|Operational loss, ground collision after landing with an RF-4 [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|Phantom II]].<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 162.</ref>
|-
|7 January 1969
|F-102A
|509th FIS
|Operational loss, engine failure.<ref>Hobson 2001, p. 171.</ref>
|-
|}
[[File:CLT F102 BackSideView.jpg|thumb|[[Carolinas Aviation Museum]]'s South Carolina Air National Guard F-102 being washed by [[US Airways]] employees.]]

===Later use===
During 1973, six aircraft were converted to [[target drone]]s as QF-102As and later PQM-102Bs (simulating MiG-21 threat aircraft) under a Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) project known as ''Pave Deuce''.<ref>Knaack 1978, p. 170.</ref><ref name = "Becker p.92">Becker 2012, p. 92.</ref> Eventually, the program converted hundreds of F-102s for use as target drones for newer fighter aircraft, as well as testing of the U.S. Army's [[Patriot missile]] system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_6.html |title=F-102 Drones |website=www.joebaugher.com |access-date=28 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925040331/http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_6.html|archive-date=25 September 2017}}</ref>

The F-102 and TF-102 were exported overseas to both Turkey and Greece. The Turkish F-102s saw combat missions during the 1974 [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]]. There have been claims of air combat between Greek [[Northrop F-5|F-5]]s and Turkish F-102s above the [[Aegean Sea]] during the Turkish invasion. A Greek internet website editor, Demetrius Stergiou, claims that the Greek F-5s had shot down two Turkish F-102s, while the Turkish side has claimed that their F-102s had shot down two Greek F-5s;<ref>Stergiou, Demetrius.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081105082814/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_298.shtml "The Shooting Down of the Turkish F-102s"]}} (translation and verbatim by Nicholas Tselepidis). ''Cyprus 1974: Greek Point of View'' via ''acig.org'', 28 October 2003. Retrieved: 27 October 2010.</ref> however, both Greece and Turkey still officially deny any aircraft losses. The F-102 was finally retired from both of those air forces in 1979.

In 1976, the F-102 was withdrawn from U.S. service, while the last QF-102A / PQM-102B drone was expended in 1986. As of 2023, no F-102s remain in flyable condition, although many can be seen at museums or as permanent static displays as [[gate guardian]]s at Air Force and Air National Guard installations.

==Variants==
;YF-102
:Prototypes. Non area-ruled fuselage. Powered by 14,500&nbsp;lbf (64.5&nbsp;kN) J57-P-11, two built.
;YF-102A
:Area-ruled prototypes. Powered by 16,000&nbsp;lbf (71.2&nbsp;kN) J57-P-23. Four converted from pre-production aircraft.
;F-102A
:Production Model. Initial eight pre-production aircraft built with non-area ruled fuselage. Remainder built (879) with area ruled fuselage.
;TF-102A:
:Two-seat training version, 111 built.
;F-102B
:The original designation of the [[Convair F-106 Delta Dart|F-106A]].
;F-102C
:Proposed tactical attack version with J57-P-47 engine. Two converted As, as YF-102C engineering test beds.<ref>Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_4.html "Convair F-102C."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124000951/http://joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_4.html |date=24 November 2010 }} ''USAAC/USAAF/USAF Fighter and Pursuit Aircraft: Original Fighter Series-1922 to 1962'', 4 December 1999. Retrieved: 25 March 2011.</ref>
;QF-102A
:Target drones converted from the F-102A. Six built.<ref name="Wegg p203">Wegg 2000, p. 203.</ref>
;PQM-102A
:Unpiloted target drones. 65 converted.<ref name="Wegg p203"/>
;PQM-102B
:Revised target drone conversion, capable of being flown remotely or by pilot in cockpit. 146 converted.<ref name="Wegg p203"/>

==Operators==
[[File:Greek TF-102A Delta Dagger 1.JPG|thumb|A [[Hellenic Air Force]] TF-102A Delta Dagger at the [[Hellenic Air Force Museum]], at Dekeleia AFB. Shows vortex generators added to the canopy to prevent buffet.]]
;{{Flag|Greece|old}}

[[Hellenic Air Force]]<ref>Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_5.html "F-102s with Greece and Turkey."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605121345/http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_5.html |date=5 June 2012 }} ''USAAC/USAAF/USAF Fighter and Pursuit Aircraft: Original Fighter Series-1922 to 1962'', 4 December 1999. Retrieved: 9 October 2011.</ref>

In 1969, Greece acquired 24 of these aircraft for use by the [[342nd All-Weather Squadron]] at [[Tanagra Air Base]]. 19 of them were single-seat F-102As, five were two-seat TF-102As. They served with the Greek air force until 1977, when the F-102s were replaced by [[Dassault Mirage F1|Mirage F1CG]] fighters.<ref>[https://www.haf.gr/history/historical-aircraft/f-102a/ Hellenic Air Force - Convair F-102A Delta Dagger] Retrieved 20 July 2020</ref>

;{{TUR}}
[[Turkish Air Force]]

Beginning in 1968, approximately 50 F-102As and TF-102As were transferred to Turkey from USAF stocks. Before transfer to Turkey, they were overhauled by CASA in Seville. They were initially assigned to the 191st Filo (Squadron) based at Murted, replacing the F-84F Thunderstreaks previously assigned to this unit. This unit was redesignated 142nd Filo in early 1973. In 1971, F-102s were also assigned to the 182nd Filo based at Diyarbakır, replacing the F-84Fs previously being flown by this unit. F-102s remained in service with these two squadrons until mid-1979, when they were replaced by the F-104G in the 142nd Filo and by the F-100C in the 182nd Filo.{{Cn|date=January 2024}}
;{{flagu|United States}}
'''[[United States Air Force]]'''<ref>Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_2.html "Squadron Service of F-102A"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124000825/http://joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_2.html |date=24 November 2010 }} ''USAAC/USAAF/USAF Fighter and Pursuit Aircraft: Original Fighter Series-1922 to 1962'', 14 February 2004. Retrieved: 9 October 2011.</ref>

:''[[Air Defense Command]]'' / ''[[Aerospace Defense Command]]''
::[[2nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base|Suffolk County AFB]] (1956–1959)
::[[5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – Suffolk County AFB (1956–1960)
::[[11th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Duluth Air National Guard Base|Duluth AFB]] (1956–1960)
::[[18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Wurtsmith AFB]] (1957–1960)
::[[27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Griffiss AFB]] (1957–1959)
::[[31st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – Wurtsmith AFB (1956–1957); transferred to Alaska Air Command
::[[37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Ethan Allen AFB]] (1957–1960)
::[[47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station|Niagara Falls AFB]] (1958–1960)
::[[48th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Langley AFB]] (1957–1960)
::[[57th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[NAS Keflavik|Naval Station Keflavik]] (1962–1973)
::[[59th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[CFB Goose Bay|Goose Bay AFB]](1960–1966)
::[[61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Truax Field Air National Guard Base|Truax Field]] (1957–1960)
::[[64th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[McChord AFB]] (1957–1960), [[Paine Air National Guard Base|Paine Field]] (1960–1966)
::[[71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Selfridge AFB]] (1958–1960)
::[[76th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Westover AFB]] (1961–1963)
::[[82d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Travis AFB]] (1957–1966)
::[[86th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Youngstown AFB]] (1957–1960)
::[[87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Lockbourne AFB]] (1958–1960)
::[[95th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Andrews AFB]] (1958–1959)
::[[317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – McChord AFB (1957–1958)
::[[318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – McChord AFB (1957–1960)
::[[323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – Truax Field (1956–1957), [[Harmon AFB]] (1957–1960)
::[[325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – Truax Field (1957–1966)
::[[326th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base|Richards-Gebaur AFB]] (1957–1967)
::[[327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[George AFB]] (1956–1958), [[Thule AB]] (1958–1960)
::[[329th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – George AFB (1958–1960)
::[[331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Webb AFB]] (1960–1963)
::[[332nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – McGuire AFB (1957–1959), [[England AFB]] (1959–1960), Thule AB (1960–1965)
::[[438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Kincheloe AFB]] (1957–1960)
::[[456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Castle AFB]] (1958–1960)
::[[460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Portland Air National Guard Base|Portland AFB]] (1958–1966)
::[[482nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Seymour Johnson AFB]] (1956–1965)
::[[498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Geiger Field]] (1957–1959)
:''[[Alaskan Air Command]]''
::[[31st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Elmendorf AFB]] (1957–1958)
::[[317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – Elmendorf AFB (1958–1970)
:''[[United States Air Forces in Europe]]''
::[[32d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Soesterberg AB]] (1960–1969)
::[[431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Zaragosa AB]] (1960–1964)
::[[496th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Hahn AB]] (1960–1970)
::[[497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Torrejon AB]] (1960–1963)
::[[525th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Bitburg AB]] (1959–1969)
::[[526th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Ramstein AB]] (1960–1970)
:''[[Pacific Air Forces]]''
::[[4th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Misawa AB]] (1957–1965)
::[[16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Naha AB]] (1959–1965)
::[[40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Yokota AB]] (1957–1965)
::[[64th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Clark AB]] (1966–1969)
::[[68th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – [[Itazuke AB]] (1957–1965)
::[[82d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – Naha AB (1966–1971)
::[[509th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] – Clark AB (1959–1970)
:''[[Air National Guard]]''
::[[102d Rescue Squadron|102d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[New York Air National Guard|NY ANG]] – [[Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base|Suffolk County ANGB]] (1972–1975)
::[[111th Reconnaissance Squadron|111th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Texas Air National Guard|TX ANG]] – [[Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base|Ellington Field]] (1960–1975)
::[[116th Air Refueling Squadron|116th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Washington Air National Guard|WA ANG]] – [[Geiger Field]] (1965–1969)
::[[118th Airlift Squadron|118th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Connecticut Air National Guard|CT ANG]] – [[Bradley Air National Guard Base|Bradley ANGB]] (1966–1971)
::[[122nd Fighter Squadron|122nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Louisiana Air National Guard|LA ANG]] – [[NAS New Orleans]] (1960–1971)
::[[123d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Oregon Air National Guard|OR ANG]] – [[Portland Air National Guard Base|Portland ANGB]] (1966–1971)
::[[132nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Maine Air National Guard|ME ANG]] – [[Bangor Air National Guard Base|Bangor ANGB]] (1969–1970)
::[[134th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Vermont Air National Guard|VT ANG]] – [[Burlington Air National Guard Base|Burlington ANGB]] (1965–1975)
::[[146th Air Refueling Squadron|146th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Pennsylvania Air National Guard|PA ANG]] – [[Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station|Pittsburgh AP]] (1961–1975)
::[[151st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Tennessee Air National Guard|TN ANG]] – [[McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base|McGhee-Tyson ANGB]] (1963–1964)
::[[152nd Fighter Squadron|152d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Arizona Air National Guard|AZ ANG]] – [[Tucson Air National Guard Base|Tucson ANGB]] (1966–1969)
::[[157th Fighter Squadron|157th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[South Carolina Air National Guard|SC ANG]] – [[McEntire Joint National Guard Base|MacEntire ANGB]] (1963–1975)
::[[159th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Florida Air National Guard|FL ANG]] – [[Imeson Field]] (1960–1968), [[Jacksonville International Airport|Jacksonville ANGB]] 1968–1974
::[[175th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[South Dakota Air National Guard|SD ANG]] – [[Sioux Falls Air Force Base]] (1960–1970)
::[[176th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Wisconsin Air National Guard|WI ANG]] – [[Truax Field Air National Guard Base|Truax Field]] (1966–1974)
::[[178th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[North Dakota Air National Guard|ND ANG]] – [[Hector International Airport|Hector Field]] (1966–1969)
::[[179th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Minnesota Air National Guard|MN ANG]] – [[Duluth Air National Guard Base|Duluth ANGB]] (1966–1971)
::[[182d Fighter Squadron|182nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Texas Air National Guard|TX ANG]] – [[Kelly Field Annex|Kelly AFB]] (1960–1969)
::[[186th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Montana Air National Guard|MT ANG]] – [[Great Falls Air National Guard Base|Great Falls ANGB]] (1966–1972)
::[[190th Fighter Squadron|190th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Idaho Air National Guard|ID ANG]] – [[Gowen Field Air National Guard Base|Gowen Field]] (1964–1975)
::[[194th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[California Air National Guard|CA ANG]] – [[Fresno Air National Guard Base|Fresno ANGB]] (1964–1974)
::[[196th Reconnaissance Squadron|196th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[California Air National Guard|CA ANG]] – [[Ontario International Airport|Ontario IAP]] (1965–1975)
::[[199th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], [[Hawaii Air National Guard|HI ANG]] – [[Hickam AFB]] (1960–1977)
'''[[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]]'''
::Four F-102 (likely TF-102B versions) were provided to NASA for use by the [[Mercury astronauts]].<ref>{{cite book |title = Project Mercury - A Chronology |chapter=PART II (A) Research and Development Phase of Project Mercury October 3, 1958 through December 1959 |last = Grimwood |first = James M. |series = NASA Special Publication-4001 |chapter-url = https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4001/p2a.htm |publisher = [[NASA]] |access-date = 2 February 2023}}</ref>

==Aircraft on display==
[[File:F-102 Delta Dagger JBER 2.jpg|thumb|F-102 Delta Dagger from the 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.]]

===Canada===
;F-102A
* 56-1266 – [[Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador|Stephenville, Newfoundland]]. This aircraft was formerly of the U.S. [[59th Fighter Squadron|59th Fighter Interceptor Squadron]], [[Happy Valley – Goose Bay|Goose Bay]] (Happy Valley), [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Labrador]].<ref>[http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f102-561266.html "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1266."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006223836/http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f102-561266.html |date=6 October 2012 }} ''Warbird Registry''. Retrieved: 24 March 2011.</ref>

===Germany===
;F-102A
* 56-1125 – [[Flugausstellung Peter Junior]].

===Greece===
;F-102A
* 56-1106 – [[Tanagra Air Base]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1232 – [[Larissa Air Base]].<ref>[http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/Greece/Larisa/Base_Museum.htm "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1232."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015021756/http://aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/Greece/Larisa/Base_Museum.htm |date=15 October 2011 }} ''Larisa Base Museum''. ''aviationmuseum.eu.'' Retrieved: 9 October 2011.</ref>

;TF-102A
* 56-2355 – [[Hellenic Air Force Museum]], [[Tatoi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.haf.gr/history/museum/exhibits/ekthemata-eksoterika-voreios-tou-ypostegou-leros/|title = Εκθέματα Εξωτερικά Βορείως του Υποστέγου ΛΕΡΟΣ}}</ref>
* 55-4035 – [[Hellenic Air Force Museum]], [[Tatoi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.haf.gr/history/museum/exhibits/ekthemata-eksoterika-notios-tou-ypostegou-leros/|title=Εκθέματα Εξωτερικά Νοτίως του Υπόστεγου ΛΕΡΟΣ}}</ref>

===Netherlands===
;F-102A
* 56-1052 – On display at the [[Nationaal Militair Museum]], [[Soesterberg]]. Former Greek aircraft, painted as 56-1032, 32nd FIS USAF.<ref>[https://www.nmm.nl/zoeken-in-de-collectie/detail/471408/ "F-102 Delta Dagger / 56-1032."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015045026/https://www.nmm.nl/zoeken-in-de-collectie/detail/471408/ |date=15 October 2017 }} ''nmm.nl.'' Retrieved: 14 October 2017.</ref>

===Turkey===
[[File:Convair F-102 Delta Dagger at Istanbul 5390.jpg|thumb|55-3386 at [[Istanbul Aviation Museum]]]]
[[File:F-102A head on.jpg|thumb|56-1515 head on view at [[McChord AFB]]]]

;F-102A
* 55-3386 – [[Istanbul Aviation Museum]].<ref>[http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f102-553386.html "F-102 Delta Dagger/55-3386."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928033600/http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f102-553386.html |date=28 September 2012 }} ''Warbird Registry''. Retrieved: 9 October 2011.</ref>

;TF-102A
* 56-2368 – [[Istanbul Aviation Museum]].<ref>[http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f102-562368.html "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-2386."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929044709/http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f102-562368.html |date=29 September 2012 }} ''Warbird Registry''. Retrieved: 9 October 2011.</ref>

===United States===
;YF-102A
* 53-1787 – Military Museum Air Park at [[Jackson Barracks]], [[New Orleans, Louisiana]].<ref>[https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/jackson-barracks-military-museum-airpark/ Jackson Barracks Military Museum Airpark]</ref>
* 53-1788 – [[Carolinas Aviation Museum]], [[Charlotte, North Carolina]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 

;TF-102A
* 54-1351 – [[Selfridge Military Air Museum]], [[Selfridge ANGB]], [[Mount Clemens, Michigan]].<ref>[http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org/TF-102A.htm "F-102 Delta Dagger/54-1351."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819204728/http://selfridgeairmuseum.org/TF-102A.htm |date=19 August 2016 }} ''Selfridge Military Air Museum''. Retrieved: 16 June 2015.</ref>
* 54-1353 – Century Circle at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], near [[Rosamond, California]]<ref>[http://afftcmuseum.org/exhibits/museum-aircraft-exhibits/ "F-102 Delta Dagger/54-1353."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022224752/http://afftcmuseum.org/exhibits/museum-aircraft-exhibits/ |date=22 October 2014 }} ''Air Force Flight Test Center Museum.'' Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 54-1366 – [[Pima Air and Space Museum]] adjacent to [[Davis-Monthan AFB]] in [[Tucson, Arizona]].<ref>[http://www.pimaair.org/visit/aircraft-by-name/item/convair-tf-102a-delta-dagger "F-102 Delta Dagger/54-1366."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224043141/http://www.pimaair.org/visit/aircraft-by-name/item/convair-tf-102a-delta-dagger |date=24 February 2015 }} ''Pima Air and Space Museum.'' Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 56-2317 – [[Grissom Air Museum]], [[Grissom Air Reserve Base]] (former [[Grissom AFB]]), [[Peru, Indiana]].<ref>[http://www.grissomairmuseum.com/gallery/trainers/plane-17-2 "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-2317."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115060129/http://www.grissomairmuseum.com/gallery/trainers/plane-17-2 |date=15 January 2013 }} ''Grissom Air Museum''. Retrieved: 24 March 2011.</ref>
* 56-2337 – [[Fort Worth Aviation Museum]], [[Fort Worth, Texas]].<ref>[http://vmapaircraft.weebly.com/tf-102-delta-dagger-log "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-2337."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507162419/http://vmapaircraft.weebly.com/tf-102-delta-dagger-log |date=7 May 2015 }} ''Fort Worth Aviation Museum''. Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 56-2346 – Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum, [[Pennsylvania National Guard]] Headquarters, [[Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania]]. (Aircraft was assigned to the [[Pennsylvania Air National Guard]], at the [[112th Air Refueling Group|112th Fighter Interceptor Group]], [[Pittsburgh International Airport]], [[Coraopolis, Pennsylvania]] from 1960 to 1974 and is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force).<ref>[http://www.pngmilitarymuseum.org/exhibits/equipment/aircraft/fixed_wing.html "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-2346."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004220324/http://pngmilitarymuseum.org/exhibits/equipment/aircraft/fixed_wing.html |date=4 October 2011 }} ''Pennsylvania National Guard Museum'', Retrieved: 9 October 2011.</ref>
* 56-2352 – [[Southern Museum of Flight]], [[Birmingham, Alabama]].<ref>[http://www.southernmuseumofflight.org/exhibits.html "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-2352."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020408230451/http://www.southernmuseumofflight.org/exhibits.html |date=8 April 2002 }} ''Southern Museum of Flight''. Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 56-2353 – Wisconsin National Guard Memorial Library and Museum, [[Volk Field]], [[Camp Douglas, Wisconsin]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-2364 – [[Castle Air Museum]], [[Atwater, California]].<ref>[http://www.castleairmuseum.org/ondisplay "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-2364."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114232620/http://www.castleairmuseum.org/ondisplay/ |date=14 November 2016 }} ''Castle Air Museum''. Retrieved: 56-2364.</ref>

;F-102A
* 53-1801 – Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station ([[Sioux Falls Regional Airport]]) - [[114th Fighter Wing]], [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 53-1804 – [[Fresno Air National Guard Base]] - [[144th Fighter Wing]], [[Fresno, California]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 53-1816 – Boise Idaho Military History Museum, [[Boise, Idaho]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
[[File:Convair F-102 Delta Dagger at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.jpg|thumb|Convair F-102 Delta Dagger at the [[Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum]] near Ashland, Nebraska]]
* 54-1405 – [[Strategic Air and Space Museum]], [[Ashland, Nebraska]]<ref>[http://www.sasmuseum.com/aircraft/f-102a-delta-dagger/ "F-102 Delta Dagger/54-1405."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114232447/http://www.sasmuseum.com/aircraft/f-102a-delta-dagger/ |date=14 January 2015 }} ''Strategic Air and Space Museum.'' Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 54-1373 – [[Hickam AFB]], [[Honolulu, Hawaii]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 55-3366 – [[Pacific Aviation Museum]], [[Ford Island]], [[Honolulu, Hawaii]].<ref>[http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/F102A "F-102 Delta Dagger/55-3366."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506110116/http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/F102A |date=6 May 2015 }} ''Pacific Aviation Museum''. Retrieved: 16 June 2015.</ref>
* 56-0984 – [[Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum|Wings Over the Rockies Museum]], (former [[Lowry AFB]]) [[Denver, Colorado]].<ref>[http://wingsmuseum.org/category/aircraft-exhibits/page/2/ "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-0984."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217152527/http://wingsmuseum.org/category/aircraft-exhibits/page/2/ |date=17 February 2015 }} ''Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.'' Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 56-0985 – [[McEntire Air National Guard Base]], [[South Carolina]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
[[File:Convair F-102 Delta Dagger at the MAPS Air Museum at the Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio.jpg|thumb|Convair F-102 Delta Dagger at the MAPS Air Museum at the Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio]]
* 56-0986 – [[MAPS Air Museum]], [[Akron-Canton Regional Airport]], [[Ohio]].<ref>[https://sites.google.com/a/mapsairmuseum.org/f-102a-56-986/ "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-0985."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010030619/https://sites.google.com/a/mapsairmuseum.org/f-102a-56-986/ |date=10 October 2013 }} ''MAPS Air Museum''.  Retrieved: 7 November 2012.</ref>
* 56-1017 – [[South Dakota Air and Space Museum]], [[Ellsworth AFB]], [[Rapid City, South Dakota]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170806170528/http://www.sdairandspacemuseum.com/exhibits "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1017."]}} ''South Dakota Air and Space Museum.'' Retrieved: 16 June 2015.</ref>
* 56–1053, (painted as 56–1274), – Alaska Heritage Park, [[Elmendorf AFB]], [[Alaska]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1105 – Lions Park in [[Great Falls, Montana]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1109 – [[Peterson AFB]], [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1114 – [[March Field Air Museum]], [[March ARB]] (former [[March AFB]]), [[Riverside, California]].<ref>[http://www.marchfield.org/aircraft-exhibits/aircraft/f-102a-delta-dagger-convair/ "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1114."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113025035/http://www.marchfield.org/aircraft-exhibits/aircraft/f-102a-delta-dagger-convair/ |date=13 January 2015 }} ''March Field Museum''. Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 56-1115 – [[Fairchild AFB]], [[Spokane, Washington]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1134 – Arizona ANGB, [[Tucson, Arizona]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1140 – [[Aerospace Museum of California]], former [[McClellan AFB]], [[Sacramento, California]].<ref>[http://www.aerospaceca.org/convair-f-102a-delta-dagger/ "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1140."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217184151/http://www.aerospaceca.org/convair-f-102a-delta-dagger/ |date=17 December 2014 }} ''Aerospace Museum of California''. Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 56-1151 – [[Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins)|Museum of Aviation]], [[Robins AFB]], [[Warner Robins, Georgia]].<ref>[http://www.museumofaviation.org/F102.php "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1151."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203083105/http://www.museumofaviation.org/F102.php |date=3 December 2012 }} ''Museum of Aviation''. Retrieved: 9 February 2015.</ref>
* 56-1219 – [[Empire State Aerosciences Museum]], [[Schenectady County Airport]], [[New York (state)|New York]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1252 – [[Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base]], [[Houston, Texas]]. Future President of the United States George W. Bush flew this model with the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group, 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Texas Air National Guard in the early 1970s. It is mounted on a pole that exits the burner. His name is on the canopy.{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1264 – Connecticut ANGB - 103rd FW, [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1268 – [[San Diego Air and Space Museum]], [[Gillespie Field]], [[El Cajon, California]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1273 – Wisconsin National Guard Memorial Library and Museum, [[Volk Field]], [[Camp Douglas, Wisconsin]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1282 – Transportation and Industry Museum of Alaska, [[Wasilla, Alaska]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56–1325, (painted as 56–1476), – [[Minnesota Air National Guard]] Base, [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]<ref>[http://mnangmuseum.org/exhibits/delta-dagger/ "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1325."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617212738/http://mnangmuseum.org/exhibits/delta-dagger/ |date=17 June 2015 }} ''The Minnesota Air National Guard Museum.'' Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 56-1368 – [[Evergreen Aviation Museum]], [[McMinnville, Oregon]].<ref>[http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/the-museum/aircraft-exhibits/military-aircrafts/ "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1386."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206162346/http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/the-museum/aircraft-exhibits/military-aircrafts/ |date=6 December 2011 }} ''Evergreen Aviation Museum''. Retrieved: 9 October 2011.</ref>
* 56-1393 – [[Pima Air and Space Museum]] adjacent to [[Davis-Monthan AFB]] in [[Tucson, Arizona]].<ref>[http://www.pimaair.org/visit/aircraft-by-name/item/convair-f-102a-delta-dagger "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1393."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104223737/http://www.pimaair.org/visit/aircraft-by-name/item/convair-f-102a-delta-dagger |date=4 January 2015 }} ''Pima Air and Space Museum.'' Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 56-1413 – [[Castle Air Museum]] (former [[Castle AFB]]), [[Atwater, California]].<ref>[http://www.castleairmuseum.org/ondisplay "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1413."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114232620/http://www.castleairmuseum.org/ondisplay/ |date=14 November 2016 }} ''Castle Air Museum''. Retrieved: 27 January 2015.</ref>
* 56-1415 – [[Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station]] (located at [[Pittsburgh International Airport]]), [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]. Refurbished in 2010.{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
[[File:Convair F-102 Delta Dagger at the National Museum of the US Air Force.jpg|thumb|Convair F-102 Delta Dagger at the [[National Museum of the US Air Force]].]]
* 56-1416 – [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]], [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] near [[Dayton, Ohio]].<ref>[https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/198057/convair-f-102a-delta-dagger/ "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1416."]  ''National Museum of the United States Air Force.'' Retrieved: 23 August 2015.</ref>
* 56-1427 – Travis AFB Heritage Center, [[Travis AFB]], [[Fairfield, California]].<ref>[https://travisheritagecenter.org/html/f102a.html "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1427."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605233348/https://travisheritagecenter.org/html/f102a.html |date=5 June 2015 }} ''Travis AFB Heritage Center''. Retrieved: 16 June 2015.</ref>
* 56–1502, (painted as 55–3432), - North Dakota ANGB - 119TH FG, [[Fargo, North Dakota]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1505 – [[Minot AFB]], [[Minot, North Dakota]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 56-1515 – [[McChord Air Museum]], [[McChord Air Force Base]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]].<ref>[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20COLLECTION%20F-102%20BORDER.htm "F-102 Delta Dagger/56-1515."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529214144/http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20COLLECTION%20F-102%20BORDER.htm |date=29 May 2008 }} ''McChord Air Museum''. Retrieved: 12 October 2010.</ref>
* 57-0788 – [[Long Island MacArthur Airport]], [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 57–0817, (painted as 56–1357), - Florida Air National Guard Base - 125th Fighter Wing, [[Jacksonville, Florida]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 57-0826 – [[Sheppard AFB]], [[Wichita Falls, Texas]].<{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
[[File:F-102 70826.jpg|thumb|F-102 on display at Sheppard AFB.]]
* 57-0833 – [[Hill Aerospace Museum]], [[Hill AFB]], [[Utah]].<ref>[http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5726 "F-102 Delta Dagger/57-0833."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007231408/http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5726 |date=7 October 2012 }} ''Hill Aerospace Museum''. Retrieved: 9 October 2011.</ref>
* 57-0858 – [[Burlington Air National Guard Base]], [[Burlington, Vermont]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
* 57-0906 – [[Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins)|Museum of Aviation]], [[Robins AFB]], [[Warner Robins, Georgia]].{{Cn|date=September 2024}}

==Specifications (F-102A)==
{{multiple image
 |total_width = 500
 | image1 = Convair F-102 Delta Dagger.svg
 | alt1 = 3-view line drawing of the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
 | caption1 = 3-view line drawing of the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
 | image2 = Convair TF-102A Delta Dagger 3-view line drawing.png
 | alt2 = 3-view line drawing of the Convair TF-102A Delta Dagger
 | caption2 = 3-view line drawing of the Convair TF-102A Delta Dagger
}}

{{Aircraft specs
|ref= ''The Great Book of Fighters''<ref>Green and Swanborough 2001, {{page needed|date=July 2023}}.</ref>
|prime units?= imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew= 1
|length ft= 68
|length in= 4
|length note=
|span ft= 38
|span in= 1
|span note=
|height ft= 21
|height in= 2.5
|height note=
|wing area sqft= 695
|wing area note= conically cambered wing<br>
::::{{cvt|661.5|sqft|2}} '''YF-102'''
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil= [[NACA airfoil|NACA 0004-65 mod]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1 = Lednicer |first1 = David |title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url = https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website = m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date = 16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb= 19,350
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb= 24,494
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb= 31,500
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity= {{cvt|1085|USgal|impgal l}} internal + 2 × {{cvt|215|USgal|impgal l}} drop tanks
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number= 1
|eng1 name= [[Pratt & Whitney J57-P-25]]
|eng1 type= [[afterburning turbojet]] engine
|eng1 lbf= 11,700
|eng1 note=
|eng1 lbf-ab= 17,000

<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph= 825
|max speed note= at {{cvt|40000|ft|0}}
|max speed mach= 1.25, Mach 0.95 with drop tanks <ref>{{cite web |last1 = Newdick |first1 = Thomas |title = F-102 Delta Dagger's Weapons Bays Combined Rockets And Missiles In A Feat Of Cold War Ingenuity |url = https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36009/f-102-delta-daggers-weapons-bays-combined-rockets-and-missiles-in-a-feat-of-cold-war-ingenuity |website = thedrive.com |publisher = Joseph F. Baugher |access-date = 16 July 2014}}</ref>
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles= 1,350
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft= 53,400
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ftmin= 13,000
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft= 35
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|thrust/weight= 0.7

|more performance=<!--
* '''Take-off run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
* '''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
* '''Landing run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
* '''Landing distance from {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}-->
<!--
        Armament
-->
|rockets= 24 × 2.75 in (70 mm) [[Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket|FFAR]] (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket) unguided rockets in missile bay doors
|missiles=
** 6 × [[AIM-4 Falcon]] air-to-air missiles ''or''
** 3 × AIM-4 Falcon
** 1 × [[AIM-26 Falcon]] with conventional or nuclear warhead
|avionics=
* [[Hughes MG-10]] fire control system
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Convair XF-92]]
* [[Convair F-106 Delta Dart]]
|similar aircraft=
* {{lwc|Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow}}
* {{lwc|Dassault Mirage III}}
* {{lwc|English Electric Lightning}}
* {{lwc|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21}} / {{lwc|Chengdu J-7}}
* {{lwc|Saab 35 Draken}}
* [[Sukhoi Su-9]] / {{lwc|Sukhoi Su-11|Su-11}}
* {{lwc|Sukhoi Su-15}}
|lists=
* [[List of fighter aircraft]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
|see also=
* [[Century Series]]
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=N}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Becker |first1 = W.D. |title = Supersonic Eagles: the Century Series fighters |date = 2012 |publisher = Inland Expressions |location = Clinton Township, MI, US |isbn = 978-0981815794 |edition = First |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=velg_t4YdmwC&pg=PA72}}
* {{cite book |editor-last1 = Donald |editor-first1 = David |title = The Encyclopaedia of World Aircraft |date = 1997 |publisher = Blitz Editions |location = Leicester, UK |isbn = 1-85605-375-X |edition = Updated |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0jKTrdTa9eIC&pg=PA207}}
* {{Cite book |last = Donald |first = David |chapter = Convair F-102 Delta Dagger |title = Century Jets: USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War |date = 2003 |location = Norwalk, Connecticut, US |publisher = AIRtime Publishing |isbn = 1-880588-68-4}}
* {{Cite book |last = Drendel |first = Lou |title = Century Series in Color'' (Fighting Colors |location = Carrollton, Texas, US |publisher = Squadron/Signal Publications |date = 1980 |isbn = 0-89747-097-4}}
* {{Cite book |last = Green |first = William |title = The World's Fighting Planes |location = London, UK |publisher = Macdonald |date = 1964}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Green |first1 = William |first2 = Gordon |last2 = Swanborough |title = The Great Book of Fighters |location = St. Paul, Minnesota, US |publisher = MBI Publishing |date = 2001 |isbn = 0-7603-1194-3}}
* {{Cite magazine |last = Gunston |first = Bill |author-link = Bill Gunston |url = http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%200510.html |title = Convair F-102: An Analysis of America's Home-defence Interceptor |magazine = [[Flight International|Flight]] |date = 19 April 1957 |page =  |pages = 512–518}}
* {{Cite book |last = Gunston |first = Bill |title = Fighters of the Fifties |location = North Branch, Minnesota, US |publisher = Specialty Press Publishers & Wholesalers Incorporated |date = 1981 |isbn = 0-933424-32-9}}
* {{Cite book |last = Hobson |first = Chris |title = Vietnam Air Losses: United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia, 1961–73 |location = North Branch, Minnesota, US |publisher = Specialty Press Publishers & Wholesalers Incorporated |date = 2001 |isbn = 1-85780-115-6}}
* {{Cite book |last1 = Jenkins |first1 = Dennis R. |first2 = Tony R. |last2 = Landis |title = Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters |location = North Branch, Minnesota, US |publisher = Specialty Press Publishers & Wholesalers Incorporated |date = 2008 |isbn = 978-1-58007-111-6}}
* {{Cite book |url = http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100526-027.pdf |last = Knaack |first = Marcelle Size |title = Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1, Post-World War II Fighters, 1945–1973 |location = Washington, D.C., US |publisher = Office of Air Force History |date = 1978 |isbn = 0-912799-59-5 |access-date = 21 December 2013 |archive-date = 3 March 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182633/http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100526-027.pdf |url-status = dead}}
* {{Cite book |last = Mendenhall |first = Charles A. |title = Delta Wings: Convair's High-Speed Planes of the Fifties and Sixties |publisher = Motorbooks International |date = 1983}}
* {{Cite book |last = Pace |first = Steve |title = X-Fighters: USAF Experimental and Prototype Fighters, XP-59 to YF-23 |location = St. Paul, Minnesota, US |publisher = Motorbooks International |date = 1991 |isbn = 0-87938-540-5}}
* {{Cite magazine |last = Peacock |first = Lindsay |title = Convair's Delta Defender: The F-102 Story |magazine = [[Air International]] |volume = 30 |number = 1 |date = January 1986 |pages = 28–37, 52 |issn = 0306-5634}}
* {{cite book |editor-last = Schmidt |editor-first = Harry P. |title = Test Pilot: Testing the Century Series of jet fighters at Edwards Air Force Base during the 1950s |location = Shelton, UK |publisher = Mach 2 Books |date = 1997}}
* {{Cite book |editor-last = Taylor |editor-first = Michael J. H. |chapter = The Convair Delta Dagger |title = Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century |location = New York, US |publisher = Modern Publishing |date = 1995 |isbn = 978-0-7924-5627-8}}
* {{Cite book |last = Wegg |first = John |title = General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors |location = London, UK |publisher = Putnam |date = 1990 |isbn = 0-85177-833-X}}
* {{Cite book |editor-last = Winchester |editor-first = Jim |chapter = Convair F-102 Delta Dagger |title = ''Military Aircraft of the Cold War'' (The Aviation Factfile) |location = London, UK |publisher = Grange Books plc |date = 2006 |isbn = 1-84013-929-3}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f102/ Aerospaceweb's Profile of the F-102]
* [http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/f-102_delta_dagger.pl Global Aircraft's F-102 Specs., Achievements, and Photos]
* [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102.html Joe Baugher's F-102 Delta Dagger History]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20001219062400/http://www.aero-web.org/locator/manufact/convair/f-102.htm Aero-Web: ''List of F-102 Delta Dagger on display in the US.'']

{{Convair aircraft}}
{{USAF fighters}}
{{US missiles}}
{{USAF system codes}}
{{Century Series}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Convair aircraft|F-102]]
[[Category:Tailless delta-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:1950s United States fighter aircraft|Convair F-102 Delta Dagger]]
[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1953]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Second-generation jet fighters]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]