The same day another SR-71 set an absolute speed record of 3,529.6 kilometers per hour (2,193.2 miles per hour), approximately Mach 3.3. However, another view held by various officers and legislators is that the SR-71 program was terminated owing to Pentagon politics, and not because the aircraft had become obsolete, irrelevant, too hard to maintain, or unsustainably expensive. The A-12 is a single-seat, twin-engine, twin-tail design, manufactured of a titanium alloy. Specialized protective pressurized suits were produced for crew members by the David Clark Company for the A-12, YF-12, M-21 and SR-71. [100][101] Over the course of its reconnaissance missions during the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese fired approximately 800 SAMs at SR-71s, none of which managed to score a hit. Some secondary references use incorrect 64- series aircraft serial numbers (e.g. We rely on the generous support of donors, sponsors, members, and other benefactors to share the history and impact of aviation and spaceflight, educate the public, and inspire future generations. NASA released video footage of the SR-71 Blackbird, the high-altitude recon aircraft capable of reaching speeds over Mach 3. This meant that much of the SR-71's imagery and radar data could not be used in real time, but had to wait until the aircraft returned to base. [138][139] However, the USAF is officially pursuing the Northrop Grumman RQ-180 UAV to assume the SR-71's strategic ISR role. [11][129][130] SR-71 pilot Brian Shul states in his book The Untouchables that he flew in excess of Mach3.5 on 15 April 1986 over Libya to evade a missile.[95]. [90][40], The first flight of an SR-71 took place on 22 December 1964, at USAF Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, piloted by Bob Gilliland. American leaders needed to know about the Soviet Unions nuclear capability, ICBM program, and military installations. For thermal experiments, this produced heat soak temperatures of over 600 degrees (F). In the later years of its operational life, a datalink system could send ASARS-1 and ELINT data from about 2,000nmi (3,700km) of track coverage to a suitably equipped ground station. When we are trying to find out if the Serbs are taking arms, moving tanks or artillery into Bosnia, we can get a picture of them stacked up on the Serbian side of the bridge. [3] On average, each SR-71 could fly once per week due to the extended turnaround required after mission recovery. [2] If a surface-to-air missile launch was detected, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate and outpace the missile. "Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1994 and The Future Years.". Such generals had an interest in believing, and persuading the services and the Congress, that the SR-71 had become either entirely or almost entirely redundant to satellites, U-2s, incipient UAV programs, and an alleged top-secret successor already under development. Itek KA-102A 3648in (9101,220mm) camera. No. Also, the SR-71 program's "product", which was operational and strategic intelligence, was not seen by these generals as being very valuable to the USAF. Due to the excessive cost of operating both A-12 and SR-71 programs, the SR-71 was chosen to take over Operation Black Shield at Kadena in 1968. Only one crew member, Jim Zwayer, a Lockheed flight-test reconnaissance and navigation systems specialist, was killed in a flight accident. Despite this, however, its shape made it vulnerable to radar detection. 98, 100101. Goodall, James and Jay Miller. Related: Here Are The Most Terrifying Aircraft Ever Used By The Military On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Aerodynamicists initially opposed the concept, disparagingly referring to the aircraft as a Mach 3 variant of the 1920s-era Ford Trimotor, which was known for its corrugated aluminum skin. The U.S. Air Force had played a huge role in supporting the CIAs A-12 program in terms of money, aerial refueling support, use of its facilities at Kadena Air Force Base, and various transport. Wide-area imaging was provided by two of Itek's Operational Objective Cameras, which provided stereo imagery across the width of the flight track, or an Itek Optical Bar Camera, which gave continuous horizon-to-horizon coverage. [N 5][47][48], The air inlets allowed the SR-71 to cruise at over Mach3.2, with the air slowing down to subsonic speed as it entered the engine. [17] The CIA's A-12 was a better photo-reconnaissance platform than the USAF's R-12, since the A-12 flew somewhat higher and faster, and with only one pilot, it had room to carry a superior camera[14] and more instruments. One plane was almost hit by a missile on 26 August 1981 over the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea but managed to evade and out-fly it. The J58 was a considerable innovation of the era, capable of producing a static thrust of 32,500lbf (145kN). [25][26] The SR-71 was designed to minimize its radar cross-section, an early attempt at stealth design. The aircraft flew at more than 2200 mph (Mach 3+ or more than three times the speed of sound) and at altitudes over 85,000 feet. On 28 July 1976, SR-71 serial number 61-7962, piloted by then Captain Robert Helt, broke the world record: an "absolute altitude record" of 85,069 feet (25,929 m). American aerospace engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the aircraft's innovative concepts. On May 1, 1960, a surface-to-air missile explosion knocked down the U-2 of Gary Powers over Soviet airspace. [9][10][11], Lockheed's previous reconnaissance aircraft was the relatively slow U-2, designed for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). This portion of the skin was only supported by widely spaced structural ribs. A general misunderstanding of the nature of aerial reconnaissance and a lack of knowledge about the SR-71 in particular (due to its secretive development and operations) was used by detractors to discredit the aircraft, with the assurance given that a replacement was under development. The USAF may have seen the SR-71 as a bargaining chip to ensure the survival of other priorities. The SR-71 Blackbird cruises above Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound). No. [40], The second operational aircraft[41] designed around a stealth aircraft shape and materials, after the Lockheed A-12,[41] the SR-71 had several features designed to reduce its radar signature. NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. The TEB produced a characteristic green flame, which could often be seen during engine ignition. The SR-71 Blackbird cruises above Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound). Modifications were made to provide a data-link with "near real-time" transmission of the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar's imagery to sites on the ground.[104]. As velocity decreased, so did frictional heat. The rotating machinery produced less power, but still enough to run at 100% RPM, thus keeping the airflow through the intake constant. Less than two weeks . [15], The SR-71 designation is a continuation of the pre-1962 bomber series; the last aircraft built using the series was the XB-70 Valkyrie. In 1976, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird broke the worlds record for sustained altitude in horizontal flight at 25,929 meters (85,069 feet). Initially, a bomber variant of the A-12 was requested by Curtis LeMay, before the program was focused solely on reconnaissance. In June 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the line-item veto was unconstitutional. It decelerates further in the divergent duct to give the required speed at entry to the compressor. The aircraft flew at an altitude of over 80,000 feet (24,000 m) and at speeds over 2,190 miles per hour (3,520 km/h). ", U-2 / A-12 / YF-12A / SR-71 Blackbird & RB-57D WB-57F locations. [118] Opponents estimated the aircraft's support cost at $400 to $700million per year, though the cost was actually closer to $300million. Filmed with Digital Combat Simulator New Videos Every Day Subscribe Turn On Noti. [68], Specialized KC-135Q tankers were required to refuel the SR-71. [44] After the advisory panel provisionally selected Convair's FISH design over the A-3 on the basis of RCS, Lockheed adopted chines for its A-4 through A-6 designs. Mach3.2 was the design point for the aircraft, its most efficient speed. No. The Blackbirds Pratt & Whitney J58 engines were designed to operate continuously in afterburner to facilitate cruise at supersonic speeds. Marshall, Elliot, The Blackbird's Wake, Air & Space, October/November 1990, p. 31. a list of stars used for celestial navigation, 4200th (later, 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, National Museum of the United States Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Aircraft in fiction Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, List of military aircraft of the United States, List of United States Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, "The SR-71 Blackbird: The Super Spy Plane That Outran Missiles", "NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: SR-71 Blackbird", "U.S. Pushes Hard To Build SR-72 Hypersonic Fighter", "Records: Sub-class: C-1 (Landplanes) Group 3: turbo-jet. [19], The outer windscreen of the cockpit was made of quartz and was fused ultrasonically to the titanium frame. Crickmore, Paul F. "Lockheed's Blackbirds A-12, YF-12 and SR-71A". Central Intelligence Agency", "The Advent, Evolution, and New Horizons of United States Stealth Aircraft. This close-up, head-on view of NASA's SR-71A Blackbird in flight shows the aircraft with an experimental test fixture mounted on the back of the airplane. Unlike the unarmed Blackbird, which used speed in its defense, the YF-12 was armed with three air-to-air missiles. [42] Drawing on early studies in radar stealth technology, which indicated that a shape with flattened, tapering sides would reflect most energy away from a radar beam's place of origin, engineers added chines and canted the vertical control surfaces inward. An SR-71 during a test flight handled by NASA. As the U-2 was called Kellys Angel, or Angel, Lockheeds designs for its successor were designated with an A prefix for Archangel. The CIA gave the contract to Lockheeds A-11, which was modified and secretly re-designated the A-12. Reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam were code-named "Black Shield" and then renamed "Giant Scale" in late 1968. US Air Force supersonic aircraft, 19641998, "SR-71" redirects here. )[26]:205217 The chief question for opinion, beyond that point, was only how crucial, or disposable, those unique advantages properly were. [19] It is a common misconception that the planes refueled shortly after takeoff because the jet fuel leaked. . This unusual instrument projected a barely visible artificial horizon line across the top of the entire instrument panel, which gave the pilot subliminal cues on aircraft attitude. Soviet overflights ceased and the U-2 continued flying missions over places with less sophisticated air defense systems. [111] The most common site for the lock-on was the thin stretch of international airspace between land and Gotland that the SR-71s used on their return flights. The shape of the SR-71 was based on that of the A-12, which was one of the first aircraft to be designed with a reduced radar cross-section. The SR-71 holds a coast-to-coast speed record of 64 . 11, November 1974. It reached 20,000 feet (6,100m) of altitude in less than two minutes, and the typical 80,000 feet (24,000m) cruising altitude in another 17 minutes, having used one third of its fuel. [35] Within 20 seconds the aircraft traveled 4,500 feet (1,400m), reached 240 miles per hour (390km/h), and lifted off. The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. The V8 start carts remained at diversion landing sites not equipped with the pneumatic system. Instead, the SR-71's camera systems could be located either in the fuselage chines or the removable nose/chine section. The reactivation met much resistance: the USAF had not budgeted for the aircraft, and UAV developers worried that their programs would suffer if money was shifted to support the SR-71s. Reconnaissance aircraft. [26], The SR-71, while much more capable than the Lockheed U-2 in terms of range, speed, and survivability, suffered the lack of a data link, which the U-2 had been upgraded to carry. Furthermore, an emergency ejection at Mach3.2 would subject crews to temperatures of about 450F (230C); thus, during a high-altitude ejection scenario, an onboard oxygen supply would keep the suit pressurized during the descent. The project, named Archangel, was led by Kelly Johnson, head of Lockheed's Skunk Works unit in Burbank, California. Its first operational mission was over Vietnam and subsequent missions were flown one to three times per week. The design was designated YF-12A in 1962 and it took its first successful Groom Lake flight in the following year. Hall also stated they were "looking at alternative means of doing [the job of the SR-71]. Why the SR-71 Blackbird Is Such a Badass Plane; The SR-71 was the result of a requirement for a high-speed, high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft. Both the first SLAR and ASARS-1 were ground-mapping imaging systems, collecting data either in fixed swaths left or right of centerline or from a spot location for higher resolution. The CIA requested designs from aerospace manufacturers for a new aircraft that would not be as susceptible to attack. This flight was awarded the 1971 Mackay Trophy for the "most meritorious flight of the year" and the 1972 Harmon Trophy for "most outstanding international achievement in the art/science of aeronautics".[132]. This configuration never flew operational missions due to horrific accidents involving difficulty with drone separation that occurred during testing. Created by Lockheed's brilliant designer Kelly Johnson, the SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most legendary aircraft to emerge from the famous "Skunk Works". Landing speeds were also reduced, as the chines' vortices created turbulent flow over the wings at high angles of attack, making it harder to stall. Credit: NASA Concordski: What ever happened to Soviets' spectacular rival to Concorde? As the SR-71 had a second cockpit behind the pilot for the RSO, it could not carry the A-12's principal sensor, a single large-focal-length optical camera that sat in the "Q-Bay" behind the A-12's single cockpit. In the early years of operation, the analog computers would not always keep up with rapidly changing flight environmental inputs. ", "Design and Development of the Blackbird: Challenges and Lessons Learned", "Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" - Air Power Provided", "SR-71 Blackbird: The Cold War's ultimate spy plane", "OXCART vs Blackbird: Do You Know the Difference? Myagkiy and its Weapons System Officer (WSO) were able to achieve a SR-71 lock on at 52,000 feet and at a distance of 120 Km from the target. While the SR-71 carried radar countermeasures to evade interception efforts, its greatest protection was its combination of high altitude and very high speed, which made it almost invulnerable. During aerial reconnaissance missions, the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes (Mach 3.2 and 85,000 feet, 25,900 meters), allowing it to outrace or entirely avoid threats. 3,500lb (1,588kg) of mission equipment, Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era. On 28 July 1976, SR-71 serial number 61-7962, piloted by then Captain Robert Helt, broke the world record: an "absolute altitude record" of 85,069 feet (25,929 m). Unofficially, SR-71 pilot Brian Shul states in his book The Untouchables that he flew in excess of Mach 3.5 on 15 April 1986 over Libya to evade a missile. 831 officially delivered to NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at, 28 September 1994: Congress votes to allocate $100million for reactivation of three SR-71s, 28 June 1995: First reactivated SR-71 returns to USAF as Detachment 2, 9 October 1999: The last flight of the SR-71 (AF Ser. 61-7976) operational mission flown from Kadena AB over Vietnam, 29 May 1968: CMSgt Bill Gornik begins the tie-cutting tradition of Habu crews' neckties, 3 December 1975: First flight of SR-71A (AF Ser. They had a second cockpit for an instructor pilot. Named Blackbird due to its unique blue to black color, this aircraft would set numerous world records for speed and altitude. Beginning in 1980, the analog inlet control system was replaced by a digital system, which reduced unstart instances. [72] The ANS could supply altitude and position to flight controls and other systems, including the mission data recorder, automatic navigation to preset destination points, automatic pointing and control of cameras and sensors, and optical or SLR sighting of fixed points loaded into the ANS before takeoff. However, by the mid-1980s, these SR-71 generals all had retired, and a new generation of USAF generals mostly wanted to cut the program's budget and spend its funding on different priorities, such as the very expensive new B-2 Spirit strategic bomber program. The squadron finally closed in mid-1990, and the aircraft were distributed to static display locations, with a number kept in reserve storage.[26]. Eventually, a quieter, pneumatic start system was developed for use at main operating bases. [120] Four months after the plane's retirement, General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., was told that the expedited reconnaissance, which the SR-71 could have provided, was unavailable during Operation Desert Storm. Congressional conferees stated the "experience with the SR-71 serves as a reminder of the pitfalls of failing to keep existing systems up-to-date and capable in the hope of acquiring other capabilities. Lockheed SR-71 (Blackbird) High-Altitude, High-Speed Reconnaissance Aircraft [ 1966 ] The SR-71 maintained an excellent operational service record during its Cold War tenure, though a dozen were lost to accidents. [105] Five flights were attempted but on each occasion no photographs of the flight path were obtained due to low visibility.[106]. [11] That same day SR-71 serial number 61-7958 set an absolute speed record of 1,905.81 knots (2,193.2mph; 3,529.6km/h), approximately Mach3.3. Swedish Air Force fighter pilots have managed to lock their radar on an SR-71 on multiple occasions within shooting range. On 28 July 1976, SR-71 serial number 61-7962, piloted by then Captain Robert Helt, broke the world record: an "absolute altitude record" of 85,069 feet (25,929m). It's a very sandy soil and it's only found in very few parts of the world. It has set numerous speed and altitude records including the following in chronological order. [104], Congress's disappointment with the lack of a suitable replacement for the Blackbird was cited concerning whether to continue funding imaging sensors on the U-2. [95] The first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later, 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, in January 1966.[96]. [97] These deployments were code-named "Glowing Heat", while the program as a whole was code-named "Senior Crown". They cost $2,300 and would generally require replacing within 20 missions. Two SR-71s were lost during these missions, one in 1970 and the second aircraft in 1972, both due to mechanical malfunctions. Years before the Powers incident, the CIA had commissioned a study to determine the characteristics for a reconnaissance aircraft that could not be shot down. Its initial purpose would have been to conduct post-nuclear strike reconnaissance; that is, looking over the enemys situation after a nuclear exchange. This configuration had a second seat for the weapons officer and cut back the chines along the nose in order to fit the AN/ASG-18 Fire Control System and AIM-47A missile armament. More than a decade after their retirement the Blackbirds remain the world's fastest and highest-flying production aircraft ever built. Water bottles had long straws which crewmembers guided into an opening in the helmet by looking in a mirror. The SR-71 was the world's fastest and highest-flying operational manned aircraft throughout its career. Each time the SR-71 refueled, the crew had to descend to the tanker's altitude, usually about 6,000 m to 9,000 m (20,000 to 30,000 ft), and slow the airplane to subsonic speeds. This position reflected the spike shock wave repeatedly between the spike center body and the inlet inner cowl sides, and minimized airflow spillage which is the cause of spillage drag. Cesium-based fuel additives were used to somewhat reduce exhaust plumes' visibility to radar, although exhaust streams remained quite apparent. It had a pilot and a Reconnaissance Systems Operator (RSO). A typical Blackbird reconnaissance flight might require several aerial refueling operations from an airborne tanker. The shock waves generated slowed the air to subsonic speeds relative to the engine. Quote from Reg Blackwell, SR-71 pilot, interviewed for "Battle Stations" episode "SR-71 Blackbird Stealth Plane", first aired on History Channel 15 December 2002. SR-71 Blackbird spotted breaking the sound barrier at high altitude. Kelly Johnson realized that the A-12 airframe might work, and designed an interceptor version of the A-12. [63], Originally, the Blackbird's J58 engines were started with the assistance of two Buick Wildcat V8 internal combustion engines, externally mounted on a vehicle referred to as an AG330 "start cart". [33] However, in practice the SR-71 was sometimes more efficient at even faster speedsdepending on the outside air temperatureas measured by pounds of fuel burned per nautical mile traveled. Development began on a coal slurry power plant, but Johnson determined that the coal particles damaged important engine components. [103], While deployed at Okinawa, the SR-71s and their aircrew members gained the nickname Habu (as did the A-12s preceding them) after a pit viper indigenous to Japan, which the Okinawans thought the plane resembled. The aircraft is silhouetted against the sunset. The aircraft can fly more than 2200 mph (Mach 3+ or more than three times the speed of sound) and at altitudes of over 85,000 feet. [49], On a typical mission, the SR-71 took off with only a partial fuel load to reduce stress on the brakes and tires during takeoff and also ensure it could successfully take off should one engine fail. It was found that the plane was in obvious distress and a decision was made that the Swedish Air Force would escort the plane out of the Baltic Sea. Reconnaissance equipment included signals intelligence sensors, a side-looking airborne radar, and a photo camera. Today, 15 of the remaining SR-71s are housed at museums across the United States, three remain property of Lockheed, and three have been kept by NASA to study aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, thermal protection materials, and instrumentation. [27] Finished aircraft were painted a dark blue, almost black, to increase the emission of internal heat and to act as camouflage against the night sky. SR-71 was designed to outperform every Soviet aircraft and missile with speed and altitude, following the 1960 incident, when the Soviets shot down CIA reconnaissance aircraft 1960 and captured its pilot Gary Powers. [104] The Skunk Works was able to return the aircraft to service under budget at $72million. Flights often lasted more than six hours and covered more than 11,265 kilometers (7,000 square miles). SR-71 Blackbird - Speed over Recognized Course - New York to London, SR-71 Blackbird - Distance Speed Record - London to Los Angeles, SR-71 Blackbird - Absolute Speed Record - Manned Aircraft. Every fact and statistic is just mind-blowing! If the SAM site could track the SR-71 and fire a SAM in time, the SAM would expend nearly all of the delta-v of its boost and sustainer phases just reaching the SR-71's altitude; at this point, out of thrust, it could do little more than follow its ballistic arc. For comparison, the best commercial Concorde flight time was 2 hours 52 minutes and the Boeing 747 averages 6 hours 15 minutes. The KC-135Q had a modified high-speed boom, which would allow refueling of the Blackbird at nearly the tanker's maximum airspeed with minimum flutter. The SR-71 was capable of flying at speeds over Mach 3.2 and at a height of 85,000 feet (25,900 Meter). In late 1957, the CIA approached the defense contractor Lockheed to build an undetectable spy plane. According to Richard Graham, a former SR-71 pilot, the navigation system was good enough to limit drift to 1,000ft (300m) off the direction of travel at Mach3.[73]. [81] Initially, the TEOCs could not match the resolution of the A-12's larger camera, but rapid improvements in both the camera and film improved this performance. On Jul. [33] Research was conducted on a liquid hydrogen powerplant, but the tanks for storing cryogenic hydrogen were not of a suitable size or shape. The Blackbird was designed to provide reconnaissance in defended airspace while improving aircrew survivability. Show more Show more 7:16 Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Marshall, Elliot, The Blackbird's Wake, Air and Space, October/November 1990, p. 35. This proportion increased progressively with speed until the afterburner provided all the thrust at about Mach 3. 3. [37] Cooling was carried out by cycling fuel behind the titanium surfaces in the chines. [57][58] The engine was most efficient around Mach3.2,[59] the Blackbird's typical cruising speed. Los Angeles, California, to Washington, D.C., distance 2,299.7 miles (3,701.0km), average speed 2,144.8 miles per hour (3,451.7km/h), and an elapsed time of 64 minutes 20 seconds. [33] In practice, the Blackbird would burn somewhat conventional JP-7, which was difficult to ignite. A closer view of the target area was given by the HYCON Technical Objective Camera (TEOC), which could be directed up to 45 left or right of the centerline. The fact is that the real performances are still classified even today. The aircraft was flown to the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio in March 1990. An SR-71 was used domestically in 1971 to assist the FBI in their manhunt for the skyjacker D.B. The media transcript given to the press at the time still had the earlier RS-71 designation in places, creating the story that the president had misread the aircraft's designation. SAS, autopilot, and manual control inputs would fight the yawing, but often the extreme off-angle would reduce airflow in the opposite engine and stimulate "sympathetic stalls". An air conditioner used a heat exchanger to dump heat from the cockpit into the fuel prior to combustion. During the Cold War, pilots of the Concorde were asking air traffic control to move the SR-71 out of its way so it could proceed to New York's JF as well as other destinations. Kelly Johnson submitted his proposal for the U-2, essentially a glider with a jet engine and a panning camera in its belly. Before the July speech, LeMay lobbied to modify Johnson's speech to read "SR-71" instead of "RS-71". Major sections of the skin of the inboard wings were corrugated, not smooth. 64-17972, flying from New York to London in 1 hour 54 minutes and 56 seconds, for an average speed of 1,806.96 mph. The SR-71's specially designed engines converted to low-speed ramjets by redirecting the airflow around the core and into the afterburner for speeds greater than Mach 2.5. Cockpit section survived and located at the, 13 June 1962: SR-71 mock-up reviewed by the USAF, 30 July 1962: J58 completes pre-flight testing, 28 December 1962: Lockheed signs contract to build six SR-71 aircraft, 25 July 1964: President Johnson makes public announcement of SR-71, 29 October 1964: SR-71 prototype (AF Ser. [33] The heat would have caused a smooth skin to split or curl, whereas the corrugated skin could expand vertically and horizontally and had increased longitudinal strength. On landing, the canopy temperature was over 572F (300C). [4][5] Eleven of these accidents happened between 1966 and 1972. Hinckley, UK: AeroFax-Midland Publishing, 2002. From 80,000 feet, an SR-71 could survey 100,000 square miles of Earth's . [134] Additionally, Air & Space/Smithsonian reported that the USAF clocked the SR-71 at one point in its flight reaching 2,242.48 miles per hour (3,608.92km/h). Maximum speed limit was Mach 3.2, but could be raised to Mach 3.3 if the engine compressor inlet temperature did not exceed 801F (427C). Johnson decided to counter this criticism by revealing the existence of the YF-12A USAF interceptor, which also served as cover for the still-secret A-12[20] and the USAF reconnaissance model since July 1964. Its stealthy design reduced its radar signature, and if it were fired upon by a surface-to-air missile, its evasive action was to simply accelerate and outfly the assailant. By the time the SAM site could track the SR-71, it was often too late to launch a SAM, and the SR-71 would be out of range before the SAM could catch up to it. 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