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Former SR-71 engineer talks NASA's Blackbird revival program

110 points · 76 comments · rkagerer

gaigalas · 1791086277 · focus · HN ↗
When I see this, I can only think of modern high-altitude balloons. My gut tells me the SR-71 would be an ideal interceptor for that new threat (despite not being an interceptor itself).
The balloon issue cannot be addressed by any modern US aircraft, and spending expensive missiles on low cost balloons seems like wasting money and resources.
We'll know soon.
1. nradov · 1791092151 · focus · HN ↗
  The SR-71 was never designed as an interceptor, and would require extensive modifications to carry and employ weapons. Not going to happen. There was an earlier YF-12 interceptor program but it never proceeded beyond the prototype stage.
  High-altitude balloons are hardly a new threat. They have been used for decades, although some recent Chinese models are more capable than before. Regular tactical aircraft already in the US inventory are perfectly capable of shooting them down.
  <a href="https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3288579/f-22-safely-shoots-down-chinese-spy-balloon-off-south-carolina-coast/" rel="nofollow">https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3288579/f-22...
  1. gaigalas · 1791093268 · focus · HN ↗
    Current aircraft is not capable of reaching those balloons, read my other commentary. Your link points to a Chinese balloon that dropped way below its operational range.
    SR-71 or not, there are already contracts for filling this niche:
    <a href="https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4613098/contracts-for-sept-28-2026/" rel="nofollow">https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4613098/... (search for "swamp gas").
    If money is flowing to counter/develop high-altitude balloons and declared as urgent, it's likely it's flowing in more than one vein.
    The frame modifications you mentioned are already specified and tested, part of the YF-12 programme. It can easily carry air-to-air missiles instead of reconnaissance equipment, and the frame has flown with that configuration.
    <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_YF-12" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_YF-12
    walrus01 · 1791097446 · focus · HN ↗
    > Current aircraft is not capable of reaching those balloons
    Is a missile a form of aircraft? Because there's variants of the Standard Missile which can hit a low earth orbit satellite, with the right timing, fired from effectively zero velocity and at sea level from a frigate.
    nradov · 1791135877 · focus · HN ↗
    Yes, certain variants of the SM-3 (RIM-161) have a limited anti-satellite capability. And in general any current Standard missile could potentially be employed against a spy balloon depending on the exact engagement parameters. The problem is that they have limited range and it can be tough to get a launch platform to the right place at the right time to generate an intercept. The Navy surface fleet is already over committed, and ground based launchers have limited mobility. Hence it's more practical to use tactical aircraft like the F-22 or F-15EX for this type of homeland defense mission.

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