SR-71 Used as a Weapon?

Well yeah, I'd always thought that was it for the YF-12 firing tests too, until I started looking into AGM-76.

I've now come across references to the 10 XAGM-76 tests from YF-12 a few different times, and I am curious why I never see it referenced in most sites discussing the YF-12 test program.

Very recently declassified material perhaps?
I can see how the nuclear strike mission would be subject to a lot more secrecy than the interceptor mission.

Wikipedia is iffy, however Encyclopedia Astronautica is an exhaustively well-researched resource, and they've never led me wrong before.

reply to post by xmotex


Check out this web site/page for some info on the AGM-76- These guys were at the RANCH

ROADRUNNERS INTERNATIONALE YF-12 MISSILES

reply to post by ajsr71


Most pages I found cite 7 firings, but I saw one that had a correction note from someone that was supposed to have been involved that said they only knew of 3 firings. That's why I said that there were between 3 and 7. I still have yet to find anything but that one page that says they fired the AGM-76 from any of them however. They only talk about the tests with the AIM-47 as the only actual firings from a YF-12.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by ajsr71

 

Most pages I found cite 7 firings, but I saw one that had a correction note from someone that was supposed to have been involved that said they only knew of 3 firings. That's why I said that there were between 3 and 7. I still have yet to find anything but that one page that says they fired the AGM-76 from any of them however. They only talk about the tests with the AIM-47 as the only actual firings from a YF-12.

There were 3 firings in 1965 and 4 in 1966. The person who only knew of 3 might have only been there in 1965.

reply to post by ajsr71


That wouldn't surprise me. I've been doing most of the digging into this late at night when I'm half asleep so I probably missed the timing of the shots.

Thanks!

Hello All, I am NEW

I was looking for a video that I thought might be "declassified" by now and found this related thread, as It was shown to my father during Special forces training 1960-63. It was of a cuban gunboat entering of waters and an SR-71 that did a 2-3 pass fly by extreme close range to the gunboat literally "IMPLODING" the boat.



"We don't need no sticking GUNS"

If anyone finds thios video please let me know!

[edit on 6-5-2009 by 300whisper]

Originally posted by Oolon
More specifically has anyone heard of it being used or tested as a weapon by the means of LOW altitude flight and HIGH speed? Heck, any aircraft, not just the SR-71?

I was thinking what would a pass over a building in such a manner? Would it cause any damage? or would the occupants just wonder what the heck was that, an earthquake?

You have to look for "Project Pluto"

It's an unmanned nuclear-powered nuclear mach 3 cruise missile. Analysts suggested that having this missile fly at 'rooftop' altitudes at mach 3 will probably cause much physical and radiation damage that it no longer needs to carry any warhead...