Don't worry about the sunburns, the plalanx systems could engage them and defeat them. Im more worried about the US phasing out the phalanx in favor of the rotary rocket system. Nothing can get through the phalanx. Why change it.

Train

IMHO the best thing to do would be to integrate both systems. The phalanx has proven to be able to destory anything within very close range, at high manueverability. The SeaRAM is for longer range threats, but i dont think it has the ability to fulfil the extremely close range threats of a few supersonic missiles coming in. The SeaRAM may be fast, but the phalanx is QUICK. Quickness at very short range is better. To blaze a missile with a few hundred rounds of depleted uranium, awesome stuff.

Train

Very informative article wembley, I never knew that happened. I was only 5 yrs old then. As for the mirage being able to attack one of our naval vesels puzzles the hell out of me. What was this moron captain doing just sitting there letting this foreign plane fly right at them. He killed 37 of his sailors and he should have been put in jail for insubordinance. That plane should have been blown out of the sky when it approached within 90 miles max. The only way the phalanx could have failed would be that it was either turned off for some reason or just broken, which doesnt sound correct. Seems to me the real problem was the captian. If that weapon was turned on, it would have wasted that exocet.

Train

'If that weapon was turned on, it would have wasted that exocet. '

'If' is a big word. Technology is great when it works. During one action in the Falklands, a British frigate came under attack by Skyhawks. The Sea Dart decided not to work; they switched to the radar-guided 4.5" gun which jammed after a few rounds. Then the Skyhawks got within range of the Sea Wolf (point defence missile) which took out the first wave; unfortunately the second wave started weaving and the Sea Wolf software decided they were not a valid target. The crew watched the launchers return to the neutral position and switch off as the Skyhawks came in.
The ship was hit by two bombs. As luck was have it they were fused incorrectly and didn't go off.

SNAFU all round...my point being that you can't rely on anything working 100%

the only ships in the falklands with seawolf were Andromeda ,Broadsword and Brilliant

and 1 bomb went through broadsword completely and hit the sea!! but thats (and a straffing run) a few days previously was the only damage she sustained

Originally posted by BigTrain
What was this moron captain doing just sitting there letting this foreign plane fly right at them. He killed 37 of his sailors and he should have been put in jail for insubordinance. That plane should have been blown out of the sky when it approached within 90 miles max. Seems to me the real problem was the captian. If that weapon was turned on, it would have wasted that exocet.

Train

Just as well you aren't in charge of anything like that or the US would be at war with everyone!

Insubordinace is a refusal to carry out orders, incompetence maybe applicable.

But the radar on both AWACs and on the ship never detected the missiles - and you blindly assume that the phlanx system would have worked where it seems other systems totally failed in their job. To assume something is nigh on invincible is dangerous...

Since these s-400 missiles have not been challenged or tested against a mach 3+ plane at 100,000 feet, I'm not sure they can hit the sr-71. Again, russian speculation, unless theres a successfu test im not aware of?!?!?

Train

How did the SR-71 retire early? decades of service took its toll on the high performance airframe. Besides, its replacement was alive, and there was no need.

I guess the SR-71 retired early because it was simply not cost effective to operate anymore. Why send 2 people 90,000 feet into the atmosphere strapped into a 30 year old rocket when you can have newer, better spy satellites do a better job for you? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the 71, but i guess i can see where the air force is coming from......
And i believe that there are two -71's still flying, one for NASA and one for the NOAA.

as stated before, the actual speed (as with the total ceiling) is classified. they can say whatever the he** they want but they will still not tell the exact truth.

I think the replacement of the SR 71 is a super stealthy UAV with a slow topspeed with a high endurance.

Originally posted by BuddhaSmiling
That's alright. I understand it is a tough ask to get a SR-71 down by a Mig-25. But what about the latest Russian SAM which are intended to knock down even non-strategic ballistic missile going as fast as 5km/sec or roughly 15 Mach. The range and alititude (200 Km and 40 Km respectively) of these 4th generation
(S-400 Triumph) missiles are also sufficient enough to chase and reach the Black bird. One has to keep in mind that no matter how powerful the engines of SR-71 could be, still it can't be a match with the Solid Rocket Motors that these SAMs most certainly employ. I think this is the real reason for the early retirement of the SR-71.

The SR-71 was retired decades ago, long before the S-400 ever came out. The main reason the SR-71 was retired was the increasing capacity of spy satellites to gather information and beam it back in realtime.

hmm,i wasnt aware that they used the jp-7 to cool the leading edges? I know its used to cool the main components in and around the engine though. Anyone here know if its true? I would look myself but after work,the brain is kinda fried.

If you don't mind spending a ton of money I suggest you read Sled Driver, and The Untouchables by Brian Schull. He was a Blackbird pilot and he has some interesting things to say about flying the bird. Some amazing pictures in the books as well. One of the most amazing pictures I've ever seen is the self portrait he did at altitude.