From: "Robert Comer" 

> 71 at speed is not manouverable.

Not totally un-maneuverable, slow to turn yes, but radar lock is kind of
obvious and even a small adjustment is a long way when we're talking those
distances.

But anyway, this is all history, there's no proof other than word of mouth,
so this argument's pretty pointless.

btw, none of the drones ever flew an operational mission and they were
designed for the predecessor of the SR-71, the A-12.  (The SR-71 was an
updated USAF version of the A-12 with more capability)

- Bob Comer


"Adam Flinton"  wrote in message
news:429f4304$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> Robert Comer wrote:
>>>Baltic Express & Northern Norway run cut close but not over.
>>
>>
>> You do know there were SR-71's based to the east of the SU too, don't
>> you? (i.e., those weren't the only 2 tracks by any means.  it's true for
>> most of the time they stayed out of the SU proper, but then there's
>> probably the other times...
>>
>
> Yup & wrt the PRC there was a sudden decision taken not to overfly the
> PRC. Oddly these decisions followed after sam deployments.
>
> WRT Sakhalin etc the KAL 747 hitting the sea gives you some idea of how
> seriously the SU viewed intrusions to the east as well as to the west.
>
>
>> I really, really, don't think they could have shot down a SR71 in the
>> late 60's/early seventies... (now is different of course, I know we
>> could, so I expect they can as well.)
>>
>
> They could have. Look at the characteristics of the SAm5 especially. The
> SAM4 was cut1 & SAM5 was cut2.
>
> Look at the characteristics & wonder what the SAM5 was for. SAM6 was for
> tactical stuff but SAM5......
>
> Let me see what PD info I can find:
>
> http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/s-200.htm
>
>
> "The missile's minimum range of 60 km is due to the booster burn time and
> jettison requirements, limiting the system to engagements against
> relatively large unmaneuverable targets at ranges up to 250 km. Guidance
> beyond the 60 km booster jettison point is by course correction command
> signals from the SQUARE PAIR radar with the S-200's own active radar
> terminal homing seeker head activated near the projected intercept point
> for final guidance.
>
> The large HE warhead is detonated either by a command signal or the
> onboard proximity fusing system. When fitted with a nuclear warhead only
> the command detonation option is used. "
>
>
> NB:
>
> "The missile's minimum range of 60 km" not maximum....
>
> "large unmaneuverable targets at ranges up to 250 km"
>
> 71 at speed is not manouverable.
>
> Adam

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