reply to post by Djdoubt03
I personally don't have any more info to give. One can only assume if the B2 was State of the Art in terms of White world aircraft at it's debut,
then one would likely assume Intelligence agencies would probably want a smaller platform than the B2 to handle recon only type missions. You could
even venture a guess that the Tacit Blue may have found its way into an operational stealth only platform. I may even venture so far out there that
certain recon only platforms are only made by the handful, as that would only be required. We only have a hot spot..er a really hot spot or two every
once a awhile where the Misty class satellites can't get to or we need a real time presence. We could even probably say these recon only type
platforms were expected from the outset.
Let's say "insert Three Letter Agency (TLA) of your choice here" knows through DARPA or Air Force Acquisitions that next gen stealth is in the
works, probably always in the works in reality. I'm sure the TLA has an ongoing need for intelligence collection. So they are probably constantly
following all R&D and say hey, I want in on this too, but i need it only to support recon/deep penetration (Giggidy) so make me a smaller one only.
In fact I believe the A12 and the U2 started this way only the reverse of that with them actually funding the initial project.
I guess I'm just theorizing here at best. I'm just taking a look at it from a money Vs. capability point of view. Every once in a while these
"Technology Demonstrators" get revealed and it makes you wonder how they really were used in what way.
Conclusion
I believe a platform either utilizing the F117 or the B2, or the competitor platforms to each program found its way into a 3 or 4 unit production.
The evidence I have is 0, but if I was betting on this in Vegas...I may just leave a winner, just as the TLAs continue to do with Black Projects.
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