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Designed as an integrated air-defense system for the USN, replacing the Talos/Terrier/Tarter SAMs. It consists of the RIM-50A Typhon LR and the RIM-55A Typhon MR paired with the AN/SPG-59 radar. Replaced by the Standard MR/ER missile program due to costs of the Typhon system.

Development of Typhon was initiated in the late 1950s, as the existing Talos, Terrier, and Tartar long-, medium-, and short-ranged missiles were considered to be approaching obsolescence; in the event of a mass attack by Soviet bomber forces, the requirement for each missile to have its own dedicated target illuminator would lead to rapid saturation of the defensive system. The Typhon system, developed under a contract awarded to the Bendix Corporation, would overcome this through the use of the AN/SPG-59 electronically scanned array radar system, capable of tracking and engaging multiple targets simultaneously.

The missile system to complement the radar was originally named Super Talos (long-range) and Super Tartar (short-range), but to avoid confusion with upgrades for the existing missiles was soon renamed Typhon. Typhon LR, the only version of the Typhon missile system to be test-flown, was ramjet-powered and was capable of intercepting high-speed aircraft and missiles, engaging targets in the Mach 3–4 range at between 50 feet (15 m) to 95,000 feet (29,000 m) altitude and 6,000 yards (5,500 m) to 110 nautical miles (130 mi; 200 km) range; a secondary capability in the surface-to-surface role, capable of targeting enemy ships, was also included in the specification. While primarily intended to be armed with a conventional high explosive warhead, Typhon LR was designed to be capable of carrying the W60 nuclear warhead.

Typhon MR was designed to be capable of intercepting aircraft at between 50 feet (15 m) to 50,000 feet (15,000 m) in altitude and 3,000 yards (2,700 m) to 25 nautical miles (29 mi; 46 km) range but had yet to enter testing before the Typhon project was canceled.

In March 1961 the first test launches of the SAM-N-8 Typhon LR took place;
beginning in 1962, the test ship USS Norton Sound entered refit to install the Typhon Weapon Control System to allow at-sea tests to be undertaken. However, the expense of the Typhon system, combined with the technical issues encountered during development, meant that the program was canceled in November 1963. The conversion of Norton Sound was allowed to be completed to provide test data, the ship recommissioning in June 1964; following the tests the Typhon equipment was removed in July 1966.

Specifications, Typhon LR
Weight: 1,700lbs (770kg) w/o booster. 3,620lbs (1,640kg) w/booster.
Length: 15ft 6in (4.72m) w/o booster. 27ft 7in (8.41m w/booster.
Diameter: 16in (410mm) missile. 18.5in (470mm) booster.
Warhead: 150lb (68kg) HE warhead or W60 nuclear warhead (yield est. 2.0kt)