Serving the United States Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s, the Convair F-106 Delta Dart was considered one of the best interceptors in the history of the US Air Force. They served as the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft of the Air Force and the Air National Guard for more than 29 years. They were the main "dancing partner" of the Russian Tu-95 Bear tactical bombers. The Delta Dart was developed from the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger. The more powerful Pratt & Whitney J-75-P-17 engine offers the aircraft a higher speed to Mach 2. 4 AIM-4 Falcon Missiles and an Air-2 Rocket can be carried in the weapons bay under the fuselage. The F-106 first flew on 26th December 1956, and entered service in June 1959. 277 single seater A types were built.