U.S. Air Force Aircraft that managed to score three YF-12 Blackbird kills during project Kedlock

In March 1960, even before delivery of the first A-12 prototype, Lockheed and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) discussed the development of an interceptor version of the A-12. Lockheed started development of the Lockheed YF-12 interceptor, as a lower-cost replacement for the F-108

Designed as the AF-12 under project Kedlock, the interceptor featured a Hughes ASG-18 pulse-Doppler radar system and launch bays for three AIM-47 missiles. A second crew position, located just behind the cockpit, accommodated a Fire Control Officer (FCO) to operate the missile launch system.

The Hughes AIM-47 Falcon, originally GAR-9, was a very long-range high-performance air-to-air missile that shared the basic design of the earlier AIM-4 Falcon.

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The last launch was from a YF-12 flying at Mach 3.2 and an altitude of 74,400 feet (22,677 m) at a QB-47 target drone 500 feet (152 m) off the ground.

The interesting photo in this post features JQB-47E 53-4256 which had been with the 3214th Operational Maintenance Squadron (OMS) at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) before being placed in storage at Davis Monthan AFB on Aug. 20, 1968.

The YF-12 kill markings on the aircraft’s nose indicate three missions against (project) Kedlock.

According to Monthan Memories “there were 7 test shots from YF-12A interceptors; one shot downed a sister QB-47E drone over the Pt. Mugu/Pacific Missile test range.

The B-47 has a photo nose, and was one of only a few RB-47s built stock for the photo mission… a source also said that there was arresting gear behind the fuselage wheels for drone recovery. The odd under-wing apparatus is part of a target measuring device to tell how close a missile passed by the drone.”

Details about QB-47E

QB-47E was the designation given to two B-47Es that were converted into prototype radio-controlled drones for use as targets or for other tasks deemed too hazardous to human occupants. Twelve more conversions were carried out by June of 1960.

The QB-47Es were equipped with control equipment, movie cameras, and other data collection equipment. They also carried ECM gear and chaff dispensers in order to make for a more realistic target during the tests. Just in case-control of the drone was ever lost, explosives were carried so that the aircraft could be intentionally destroyed before it could wander into a populated area.

They were operated by the 3205th Drone Director Group at Eglin AFB between 1959 and 1960. Even though the QB-47Es were unmanned, they were generally considered as being too expensive to be treated as being expendable, and the guided missiles tested against them were usually programmed to make near-misses. Even in spite of such precautions, a QB-47E was inadvertently destroyed by a direct hit from a Bomarc missile.

Most of these drone aircraft were later destroyed during missile tests. Two survived to become JQB-47E for use in the testing of the Hughes AIM-47 long range air-to-air missile

In March 1960, even before delivery of the first A-12 prototype, Lockheed and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) discussed development of an interceptor version of the A-12. Designed as the AF-12 under project Kedlock, the interceptor featured a Hughes ASG-18 pulse-Doppler radar system and launch bays for three AIM-47 missiles. A second crew position, located just behind the cockpit, accommodated a Fire Control Officer (FCO) to operate the missile launch system.

Details about Lockheed YF-12 interceptor aircraft

The first of three YF-12s flew in August 1963. In May 1965, the first and third YF-12s set several records, including a speed record of 2,070.101 mph and an altitude record of 80,257.65 feet. For their speed record flight, Col. Robert L. “Fox” Stephens (pilot) and Lt. Col. Daniel Andre (fire control officer) received the 1965 Thompson Trophy.

The aircraft’s mission was to intercept new Soviet supersonic bombers long before they reached the United States. The Air Force initially envisioned a fleet of as many as 100, but only three were built and delivered during 1963-64. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara cancelled Kedlock in early 1968 as a cost-cutting measure, and the aircraft were never deployed operationally.

CIA was involved with the project only in giving up three A‑12 airframes and helping write “black” contracts. The Air Force bore all the costs of the YF-12A, which was superseded by the F-111. Two of the aircraft were given to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for research, and one was converted into a trainer for the SR-71 program.