In 1955, Convair, recently purchased by General Dynamics, began examining a weapon that would fill both of these requirements. When initial studies proved promising, in January 1956 the company began an 11-month study which they named "Redeye" due to its infrared seeker. To lower prototype costs, the missile would initially be based on the unguided FFAR, which was already in widespread production. This would be turned into a missile by replacing the contact-fused warhead of the FFAR with a new seeker system and smaller 1.2 pounds (0.54 kg) warhead. In production models, the motor would be modified to burn only briefly to propel it about 25 feet (7.6 m) at low speed before firing at full thrust.