"redc1c4" wrote in message
...
Chad Irby wrote:

In article ,
"Brian" wrote:
What height invulnerability? It worked in the 60's but in todays
environment, there are quite a few missiles that could reach out and
touch
the SR-71.

Well, there's "reach," then there's "reach with a decent chance of
hitting it."

The problem is that the few missiles with the height (80,000 feet plus)
didn't have enough targeting capability to hit the Blackbird at that
height, especially in a stern chase. The best they could do would be to
loft one up and try to get in the way.

Maybe back in the 60's, but today's modern missiles shouldn't have that
tough of a time with it. The Navy has been dealing with hi-alt hi-speed
targets for a while (AS4/6, SS-N-12, SS-N-19) and practices with Vandals
(hi-speed hi-alt). If an enemy SR-71(ok, imagine we sold one to some rogue
nation), came cruising near an Aegis or NTU(ER) ship it would stand a good
chance of becoming fish food(nothing is 100%). The SA-12 and SA-20 are
downright nasty missiles as well

The newer ones, like the "big" SA-20, might be able to do it, but it
would still be a fairly tough targeting solution - you'd need to loft
one up before the SR-71 was in range, then acquire it while in midair.

Missiles like the SA-12/20 and SM-2 have incredibly high speeds and
altitudes.....the SR-71 is not in a favorable position being up in the sky
with no clutter around. If it could reach M3.2 on the deck, there would be
more problems with targeting.

at which point in time, couldn't the 71 see it coming, and maneuver
to make the geometry as bad as for the others?

Sure, but then the 71 misses it's intended track and gets no intel.