A Brief History

Succeeded by it's younger Blackbird counterpart, the A-12 Oxcart was Lockheed's response to the U.S. Air Force's (USAF) need for a high-altitude supersonic strategic reconnaissance aircraft.  Smaller, faster, more stealthy, and agile than it's younger counterpart, the A-12 conducted a field of operations over Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Soviet bloc.  So secretive was it's existence that it was hiding almost in plain sight.  To cover up the A-12 program, the USAF posited that the aircraft was a high-speed interceptor known as the YF-12.  The YF-12 variant featured a nose cone juxtaposed to the tapered design in the Blackbird and the Oxcart.  

The existence of the A-12 and it's mission set was not revealed to the public until after the turn of the twenty-first century - over thirty years since it had last flown.

The nomenclature for the A-12 can be traced back to it's developmental history.  A formal designation was never given; likely due to its secrecy.  The "A" referred to Lockheed's program that aimed to replace the U-2 Dragon Lady; Archangel.  The Archangel program had twelve different designs within it that were presented as feasible replacements between 1956 and 1959.  The produced design was number twelve, hence the "-12" designation.

Of the fifteen aircraft produced, only nine remain with the remainder lost.

Quick Facts & Specifications

Powerplant:2x Pratt & Whitney J58-1 Turbojets
Thrust:32,500 lbs ea., 65,000 lbs total
Speed:2,631 mph (Maximum), 2,297 mph (Cruise)
Ceiling:Over 85,000 feet
Range:2,900 miles (without refuel)
Weight:117,000 lbs (Maximum)
Dimensions:55'7" W 101'7" L 18'6" H
Variants:2
Number Produced:15
Origin:United States
Service History:First Flight, 1962
Full Introduction, 1967
Retirement, 1968

 

Area of Operations

Design Data

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