kyp@stsci.EDU (Mark Kyprianou) (01/23/91)
From: kyp@stsci.EDU (Mark Kyprianou)
Has the SR-71 been used in the Persian Gulf?
Does Iraq have any weapon/defense against them?
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD 21218
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Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD 21218
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Kyprianou UUCP: {arizona,decvax,hao}!noao!stsci!kypjk62+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jesse T. King) (01/24/91)
From: "Jesse T. King" <jk62+@andrew.cmu.edu> > Excerpts from netnews.sci.military: 23-Jan-91 Has the SR-71 been used in > .. Mark Kyprianou@stsci.EDU (581) > From: kyp@stsci.EDU (Mark Kyprianou) > Has the SR-71 been used in the Persian Gulf? > Does Iraq have any weapon/defense against them? So far as I know, all SR-71 planes have been officially decommisioned from military service. I am not sure if the decommisioning is complete yet though. As far as weapons and defenses against them, I believe they fly far too high for any of the Iraqi SAM units too reach them. No defense is neccassary as they are recon planes, not combat units. I'm really not positive about whether or not the Iraqi SAM units have the range, but I'm sure someone out there knows. -Jesse King
justin@tasman.cc.utas.edu.au (Justin Ridge) (01/25/91)
From: justin@tasman.cc.utas.edu.au (Justin Ridge) kyp@stsci.EDU (Mark Kyprianou) writes: >Has the SR-71 been used in the Persian Gulf? >Does Iraq have any weapon/defense against them? The SR-71 was retired about the middle of last year (March/April ??). Therefore they have not been used in the Persian Gulf, unless the USAF has secretly reactivated them, which would involve re-familiarising the crew, setting up the PSD team etc. etc. Besides, they'd operate from RAF Mildenhall in England, and nobody there has seen them coming or going. Blackbirds would be the ideal tool for reconaissance in the ME - they'd do well at finding MOBILE SCUD LAUNCHERS! Perhaps they are the weapon that the US will most wish that they had. Re: defence, the Iraqis would have no chance of shooting down the SR-71 unless it flew abnormally slow or loitered in the threat area. I'd say they could come & go as they pleased. J.Ridge, justin@tasman.cc.utas.edu.au
PAISLEY%auvm.auvm.edu@VM1.gatech.edu (01/27/91)
From: <PAISLEY%auvm.auvm.edu@VM1.gatech.edu> The SR-71 was officially retired last year by the Air Force. I think they said that they would keep one or two in 'flyable storage', but the rest were removed from service. They might tell us if they had brought it back, but I don't think it was necessary to do so yet--satellites are good enough for this war. The SR-71 is basically immune to most SAMs. I would seriously doubt if the Iraqis could hit one even if they tried. --- L. GORDON PAISLEY, PAISLEY@AUVM.AUVM.EDU THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC USA