Currently, the fastest air-breathing aircraft is the SR-71, which accelerates to slightly over Mach 3.
The SR-71 is the most flexible reconnaissance asset in the United States inventory.
One of the few remaining and, arguably, most significant issues to be resolved is the fate of the SR-71, the United States preeminent manned reconnaissance aircraft.
It also is the result of extensive experience with earlier generations of low observable technology (including the SR-71, the F-117 fighter, and the advanced cruise missile).
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In the past, the United States government has been willing to declassify the high-resolution photographs taken by the SR-71 when it felt constrained from revealing the products of satellite collection systems.
Combined with its inherent "Stealthy" characteristics, these countermeasures have permitted the SR-71 to survive hundreds of reported attempts by the North Koreans, for example, to destroy it with a variety of advanced surface-to-air missiles.
It is difficult to overstate the value of being able to bring a high-performance collection system like the SR-71 rapidly to bear virtually anywhere in the world, without regard to daylight or weather conditions.
The SR-71 has proven its value as a complementary system to U.S. space-based reconnaissance assets during the prolonged period from 1985 to 1987 when the United States was unable to place new satellites in orbit.
With its flexible flight time, Mach 3 speed, and ability to fly at altitudes above 80, 000 feet, the SR-71 is able to photograph more than 100, 000 square miles of territory in a single hour .
The issue is now at issue in conference because the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which has exclusive jurisdiction over intelligence authorization matters in the House of Representatives, has chosen to press for retirement of the SR-71.
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