HtjiarLml-rit    of  Uc  4r  tbru.,  -fttfTfV/u    hfd/ffi*(,en   &ah  &r  /fr&6t.-±  of 
SR-71  STRATEPIC  WfffflWITffffAIBg  AIRCJfttFT 
GKBERAL:  The  SR-71  is  a  high  altitude,  high  speed,  long  range  reconnaissance 
aircraft  capable  of  highly  survivable  penetration  of  heaviiy  uefcndcd  area?- 
The  on  board  reconnaissance  systems  provide  high  volume  optical,  high 
resolution  radar  and  electronic  Intelligence  coverage  simultaneously  in  a 
variety  of  sensor  combinations.  The  SR-71  cruises  at  speeds  in  excess  of  Mach 
3  and  operates  at  altitudes  above  80,000  feet.  The  aircraft  was  designed  with 
a  double  delta  wing,  a  long  slim  aerodynamic  fuselage  and  is  constructed 
largely  of  titanium  to  withstand  the  extreme  temperatures  and  forces  of  high 
Mach  flight.  It  is  powered  by  two  afterburning  turbojet  engines  producing 
30,000  pounds  of  thrust  each  and  is  manned  by  a  crew  of  two,  a  pilot  and  a 
reconnaissance  systems  officer.  The  SR-71  currently  holds  several 
international  performance  records  including  the  world's  absolute  and  class 
records  for  speed   (2194  mph)   and  altitude   (85,126   feet)   in  horizontal  flight. 
MISSIOH :  The  primary  mission  of  the  SR-71  is  high  altitude  strategic 
reconnaissance.  The  aircraft  is  capable  of  surveying  up  to  100,000  square 
miles  of  the  earth's  surface  in  one  hour  at  80,000  feet.  The  SR-71  can 
accomplish  a  variety  of  reconnaissance  roles  ranging  from  battlefield 
surveillance  in  support  of  tactical  commanders  to  pre-attack  and  post-attack 
strategic  reconnaissance. 
EfiQQSAH 
STATDS:  The  SR-71  is  presently  operational  and  in  service  with  SAC's  9th 
Strategic  Reconnaissance  Wing,  Beale  AFB,  California.  Various  modifications 
and  updates  are  performed  on  the  aircraft  and  its  surveillance  systems  to 
assure  mission  performance. 
ESHEIKLl    n/a 
COBTRACTOBS:     Weapons  Systems: 
Engines:      Pratt  & 
Lockheed  Aircraft  Corporation/Burbank , 
Whitney/East  Hartford,   CT 
CA 
-44-
XB=1. 
GggERAL:  The  TR-1 ,  a  copy  of  the  U-2R,  is  a  single  engine,  single  place,  fixed 
wing  aircraft  that  supports  NATO  theater  intelligence  requirements.  The  TR-1 
operates  above  60,000  feet  at  430  mph,  and  has  a  range  in  excess  of  3,000 
miles.  The  primary  feature  of  the  TR-1  is  its  modular  payload  packaging  which 
is  tailored  to  satisfy  specific  mission  objectives.  This  concept  maximizes 
payload  space  and  weight  allowances  for  a  wide  variety  of  radar  imagery  and 
electronics  collection  missions. 
HISSIPK;  The  primary  mission  of  the  TR-1  is  high  altitude,  long  endurance 
tactical  reconnaissance.  The  TR-1  supports  the  NATO  Central  European  Theater 
commanders  by  providing  tactical  intelligence  with  an  advanced  synthetic 
aperture  radar  system  in  combination  with  other  electronics  sensors.  The  TR-1 
provides  continuous  day  and  night,  all  weather  surveillance  in  direct  support 
of  U.S.   and  allied  ground  and  air  forces  during  peace,   crisis,   or  war. 
EBQEBAM 
SIASLSi.  The  TR-1  is  in  service  with  the  17th  Reconnaissance  Wing,  RAF 
Alconbury.  UK.  Various  modifications  and  updates  are  performed  on  the  aircraft 
and  its  surveillance  systems  to  assure  continued  mission  performance. 
FUHDIBC:  N/A,  procurement  complete  in  FY  87. 
Contractors: 
Airframe:  Lockheed  Aircraft  Corp/Burbank ,  CA 
Engines:  Pratt  &  Whitney /East  Hartford,  CT 
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KP-*C  (?mnW  ID  TACTICAL  RKWKAISSAggg  AlflCMFT 
The  RF-4C,   an  unarmed  version 
only       operational       tactical 
of     the     F-4C     fighter,      is     the     Air 
penetrating     reconnaissance     vehicle. 
GENERAL: 
Force's 
Operated  by  a  two  man  crew,  it  normally  carries  optical  cameras  and  an 
infrared  sensor.  Selected  aircraft  are  equipped  with  a  Tactical  Electronic 
Reconnaissance  (TERBC)  sensor  capable  of  data  link  transmission  to  ground 
facilities.  Some  aircraft  are  equipped  with  an  advanced  digital  avionics 
system,  ARN-101,  which  is  integrated  with  TEREC  and  used  with  the  PAVE  TACK 
infrared  pod  for  improved  target  acquisition  and  navigation  during  weather  and 
night  operations.  There  is  a  very  limited  capability  for  long  range  oblique 
photography   (LOROP). 
MISSUS: 
The     RF-4C     was     designed      to     collect     tactical      intelligence     by 
penetrating  through  enemy  defenses  during  day  or  night 
Those  equipped  with  TEREC  and  LOROP  are  capable 
surveillance,  and  TEREC  allows  identification  and 
electronic  eoitters.  Rocket  equipped  aircraft  for 
Strike  Control   and  Reconnaissance   (SCAB)   capabilities 
and  below  the     weather. 
of  standoff  battlefield 
location     of       hostile 
marking  targets  provide 
for   interdiction   forces. 
PAVE     TACK     equipped     FF-UC     aircraft     are     used     primarily     for     night  target 
acquisition  and  can   laser  designate   for   interdiction   forces  with   laser     guided 
munitions. 
EB2GBAH 
STATUS:       Presently,      there     are   11   operational  squadrons  with  5  in  the  active 
duty  Air  Force  and  6   in  the  Air  National  Guard.     The  RF-^C     is     undergoing     an 
extensive     modification     process     aimed     at     improving  its  mission  capability, 
enhancing  reliability  and  maintainability ,   and   lowering  logistics     costs.     The 
."sst     PF-4C     was     produced   in   1975,   and    is  expected   to  continue   to  perform  tre 
Air  Force's  tactical  reconnaissance  mission  until   the  year     2000.        The     RF-4C 
operates  in  TAC,   USAFE,   PACAF,   and   the  ANG. 
?m>IW  (♦  in  Mii.Uoaa):    n/a 
CfflTRMTPBS: 
Airframe:  McDonnell  Douglas/St.  Louis,  HO 
Propulsion:  General  Electric/Evendale,  OH 
42.*  .r  — *•'„£- 
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ADVANCED  T4ffTTM-  ATB  HBCOWmSSUBB  SYSTEM  (ATARS) 
GSNEfl/HT«  ATARS  is  made  up  of  two  programs,  the  Tactical  Air  Reconnaissance 
System  (TARS)  and  the  Unmanned  Air  Reconnaissance  System  (UARS).  In  the  TARS 
program,  the  Air  Force  is  developing  an  electro-optical  (EO)  sensor  suite  that 
consists  of  an  EO  sensor,  a  recorder,  a  data  link,  and  a  reconnaissance 
management  system.  In  addition,  a  tactical  ground  exploitation  system  using 
modular  technology  from  the  Joint  Services  Imagery  Processing  System  (JSIPS) 
will  be  developed.  ATARS  is  designed  to  shorten  the  time  it  takes  to  get 
imagery  intelligence  (IMINT)  to  the  user  by  data  linking  an  EO  image  direct  to 
the  JSIPS  ground  station,  and  to  eliminate  the  support  requirements  associated 
with  wet  film  developing.  To  support  a  Memorandum  of  Agreement  with  the  Navy, 
the  EO  sensor  suite  is  being  developed  for  use  on  Air  Force  and  Navy  manned 
and  unmanned  tactical  reconnaissance  vehicles.  In  the  UARS  program  the  Navy 
is  developing  a  mid-range,  medium  subsonic,  low  to  medium  altitude  tactical 
unmanned  reconnaissance  vehicle  to  satisfy  Air  Force  and  Navy  requirements. 
The  UARS  will  complement  the  RF-4  by  helping  to  reduce  its  wartime  attrition 
and  also  release  it  for  sorties  that  require  the  flexibility  and  manned 
aircraft  provides. 
HISSIOjt:  In  wartime  TARS  will  gather  IMINT  and  shorten  the  reconnaissance 
cycle  that  starts  when  intelligence  is  requested  and  ends  when  intelligence  is 
delivered.  In  peacetime,  it  significantly  reduces  the  operation  and  support 
costs  of  the  photo  processing  facility.  In  wartime,  UARS  will  be  used  to 
gather  IMINT  of  heavily  defended  fixed  targets  or  prior  to  successful 
suppression  of  enemy  air  defenses.  In  peacetime  it  can  be  used  when  manned 
overflight   is  inadvisable. 
PROGRAM 
STATUS:     TARS  -  RFP  to  be  released  during  2Q  FY  87. 
UARS  -  Bids  being  evaluated,  two  contractors  to  be  selecte     in  May  87 
to  proceed  to  a  competitive  fly-off 
FPPPffO  C*  in  MjilJtgpfil:     N/A 
COBTRAgTORS,:     TARS-TBD 
UARS-TBD 
.47-