The A-2 Savage, officially known as the North American A-2 Savage, was a carrier-based strategic bomber aircraft designed and produced for the United States Navy in the early 1950s. Manufactured by North American Aviation, the A-2 Savage was a large, twin-engine aircraft with a distinctive pod-like structure suspended beneath its wings for carrying nuclear weapons.
Introduced in 1956, the A-2 Savage was intended to serve as a long-range nuclear bomber and aerial refueling tanker. It featured a unique configuration with a high-mounted wing and a tandem cockpit arrangement, with the pilot and co-pilot sitting one behind the other. The A-2's role as a tanker involved mid-air refueling of other aircraft.
Despite its innovative design, the A-2 Savage had a relatively short operational life, and its strategic bomber role was eventually replaced by other aircraft. The tanker variant continued in service for a more extended period. The A-2 Savage represents a transitional phase in naval aviation, reflecting the evolving tactics and technologies during the Cold War era.