this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2025
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It was at least partially retired because some Asshat General decided that since the USAF has multi role attack airframes, that we didn't need recon aircraft anymore. As far as I can tell the only viable threat to the planes were SAAB Viggens.
I'm not salty. You're salty.
Eh the use of recon aircraft has been fairly outdated with satellites and remote aircraft
the problem with sattelites is that they have to be on a predictable course. any opponent able to reach space can destroy them. the communication to remotely piloted aircraft can also be jammed as part of an attack. it's why they could use an astro-inertial navigation system on the SR-71 that could not be jammed and would allow the pilot to sway from the planned course, but also go back on course. i can't believe they retired it. it closed a gap.
spy planes have better maneuverability than sattelites. if it flies as high as the SR-71, the pilot has a lot of time to react from missile launch until it's close.
Yeah the NRO satellites really make me doubt that. $2-$6b satellites capable imaging the sunlit side of the planet every 90 minutes would be a stupid expense if any country could just shoot them down.
to shoot one down is expensive and creates space debris, but
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-satellite_weapon
Didn't NASA have a couple of them for a while?