Word: interceptor
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...over Soviet territory that no plane or missile could reach it; it was only when Francis Gary Powers' U-2 was downed by a new Soviet missile in 1960 that the world learned of the spy plane's existence. Johnson's double delta YF-12 interceptor remained unchallenged for a decade until Mikoyan's MIG-25 became operational...
...MRCA fighter-bomber interceptor gets off the ground nicely this week, it may also take some business from U.S. companies. The swing-wing, twin-engine plane can break the sound barrier at near treetop level (752 m.p.h. at sea level), then soar high into the stratosphere at more than 1,350 m.p.h. -and do all this while carrying an unusually heavy weapons payload. The plane is specifically designed to replace aging U.S. aircraft in the West German Luftwaffe and navy, the Royal Air Force and the Italian air force...
...only one?the problem-ridden F-111. Now the U.S. is developing two new fighters, the F-15 for the Air Force and the F-14 Tomcat for the Navy. The Tomcat is equipped to carry the Phoenix missile, which is capable of knocking out the Soviets' newest interceptor, the MIG-25, but costs $23.3 million ?more than twice the original estimated price. The Soviet Union has the edge in antiaircraft missiles. Its air defenses boast some 10,000 launchers, including the deadly SA-6, which knocked down U.S.-built jets with devastating accuracy during the Middle East...
...secret base tucked away in the jungles of Southeast Asia, 20 small, stripped-down jet aircraft are catapulted into the air from the backs of large trucks. As they come within range of enemy radar, the planes take electronic measures to prevent detection. They are spotted by several interceptor aircraft but manage to outmaneuver them. Finally, the minibombers reach their target and unload their explosives with deadly accuracy. Several enemy surface-to-air missiles score hits on the raiders, but not a single pilot is killed, lost or captured. Reason: the mission has been flown entirely by robot aircraft, guided...
...fight over the Navy's F-14 interceptor plane was more spirited, but the vote only slightly closer, 61-28. Spending watchdogs considered the F-14 to be the most vulnerable item on the military procurement bill; it will cost four times more than the plane it is designed to replace, the F4, and there have already been cost overruns during its development, One Senator attributed its acceptance to unemployment: "Some members told me that they would rather have people working on useless things than being out of work. That's a hell of a commentary when...