Message posted by NoOne on August 09, 2009 at 21:06:50 PST:
Quite simply it was vulnerable to attack just like the U2 - which seriously limited its operational capabilities. If not on the very first A-model operational flight it would have been the second, on board comint recorded successful radar tracking. Speed, altitude and a _low_ rcs weren’t going to be enough. It would only be a matter of time if flown against serious enemies that one would fall victim to a missile attack.. Go to the CIA web page, FOIA and search for OXCART. Look for mission BX6734 (and BX6732) flown in October 1967: “The missiles were in a steep climb through the aircraft altitude of approximately 83,500 feet, then they made a sharp push over to a moderate dive angle, leveled out at my altitude and guided to the stern of the aircraft to detonation.” In addition the blackbirds were seriously expensive to operate. Then along came Denys Overholser and Echo-1. They really could do stealth. NO?
In Reply to: Sr-71 discharged? posted by Sam N. on August 09, 2009 at 18:42:49 PST:
Replies: