SR-71D Blackbird

The SR-71D Blackbird is an enlarged space-faring and atmospheric variant of the SR-71 Blackbird used by the US Air Force and is operated as a reconnaissance aircraft by the Terran Starfleet. Similar to the original SR-71 variants, the D model is used for long-range, high-speed reconnaissance missions. The Blackbird is the fastest craft of any kind in either the Andromeda Galaxy or Milky Way and is operated by the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron.

The SR-71D is nearly identical in appearance to the atmospheric variants of the SR-71. However, the D model is almost 11 feet longer with a wingspan 27 inches greater than the original atmospheric variants.

The SR-71D is capable having the same atmospheric speed as SR-71, and capable of going up to 200 MGLT in space, making it the fastest craft of any kind on Earth and in the galaxy as well. The Blackbird is also equipped with a Class 0.4 hyperdrive, making it the fastest craft in hyperspace as well as more reliable than the Millennium Falcon's Class 0.5 hyperdrive. The Blackbird is designed for long-range missions and is capable of flying missions across a galaxy and returning to its home base.

The Blackbird is slightly more armored than most fighters thanks for other materials added to its titanium alloy air-frame, and also carries shield generators to protect against incoming energy weapons fire. The Blackbird also carries a cloaking device, which is capable of hiding it from scanners. However due to it's role as a reconnaissance craft it has no weapons at all, using its speed to avoid any pursuing fighters or other weapons.

The Blackbird first saw service during the Galactic Civil War. Over the following years, it continued to be upgraded to continue its relevance. By the time of the Hosnian Cataclysm, the Blackbird was still the premier reconaissance unit used by the Alliance.

## History

### Development

During the Intergalactic Cold War, as the Terran Star Forge was nearing completion, the Admiralty of the Terran Alliance decided they needed a way to gather intelligence photographs from Imperial territory. The Admiralty soon initiated a competition for a high-speed reconnaissance craft that could make hyperspace jumps into Imperial territory, gather photographs and signals intelligence, and jump away again.

Several companies submitted designs for the competition, including Boeing, Airbus, and Sukhoi, all of which submitted original designs. However, Lockheed Martin, instead of submitting a new design, submitted a newly designed, space capable variant of the SR-71, while working with Pratt and Whitney to design new, space capable engines for the model.

The Admiralty, already well aware of the original Blackbird's capabilities, chose the Lockheed Martin design, and awarded the company the contract for 30 Blackbirds in August of 2005.

The final development of the SR-71D and construction of the 2 prototypes lasted over another year. The first SR-71D prototype flew on December 22, 2006, exactly 52 years to the day of the first flight of the very first SR-71. Flight testing continued for a little over a year.

### Entry into Service

The first production SR-71D took its first flight on January 7, 2008, and officially entered service with the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, a former USAF unit now transferred to the Terran Starfleet, on May 10, 2008.

Lockheed Martin produced a total of 30 SR-71Ds, with the last aircraft leaving the assembly line on June 10, 2013. 28 of them were operational air-frames assigned to the 99th. The remaining 2, the second and fourth produced air-frames, were assigned to a testing and research squadron.

###