The Blackbird
Developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft, the SR-71, also known as the “Blackbird,” was a long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft. The 4200th (later 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, received the first SR-71 to begin service in January 1966, while the first SR-71 flight occurred on December 22, 1964.
The Blackbird was in a different category from anything that had come before. “Everything had to be invented. Everything,” Skunk Works’ legendary aircraft designer Kelly Johnson recalled in an interesting article on Lockheed Martin‘s website.
SR-71 revolutionary electronic countermeasures
Capt. Steve “Griz” Grzebiniak, a former SR-71 pilot, describes the revolutionary electronic countermeasures that made sure that nothing else than a golden BB could lock on and then shoot down the SR-71.
Many books about the SR-71 do not have this information because it was classified (most of the information about the SR-71 was declassified in 2007).
In a recent online discussion, Steve explained more about the electronic countermeasures used in the Blackbird.
This is what Steve Grzebiniak wrote:
‘This “deception jammer” used an electronic countermeasure tactic commonly known as “range-gate stealing or range-gate pull-off.” The concept is the same as described below. This tactic would cause a false target return to show up on the enemy-targeting radar scope. This would force the enemy radar operator to switch from the “target tracking mode” and go back into the “target acquisition mode” and attempt to re-acquire the SR-71 before switching back to the more accurate “target tracking mode.”
‘This essentially defeated the SAM capability to successfully intercept the SR, as the window to acquire, track, and launch was very limited against a high-speed target.
‘The SR-71 was one of the first aircraft to feature a “Deception Jammer.” I think this is fascinating and so inventive since it was made in the early 60s.’
Designed to absorb and memorize an enemy radar signal
Grzebiniak concludes;
‘The device was designed to absorb and memorize an enemy radar signal as it hit the reconnaissance plane and sent back a radar single similar to the SR-71, but STRONGER than projecting away from the plane, the trick was designed to confuse the enemy radar operator by making him see a “ghost blimp on the scope!
‘Some parts of the jamming used on the SR-71 are still not allowed to be used while flying over the United States. So, when another country brags that they could’ve shot down our SR-71, just remember what our jamming devices were able to do!’
Check out Habubrats SR-71‘s Twitter profile, SR71Habubrats‘s Instagram, and Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder Habubrats‘s Facebook for further Blackbird photos and stories.
Photo by Russian Ministry of Defence and Lockheed Martin