OXCART PROGRAM HISTORY AND STATUS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89B00980R000600050024-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 6, 2005
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: April 15, 1965
• Content Type: BRIEF

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OXCART
I o ;7
15 April 1965
BRIEFING NOTE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
SUBJECT : OXCART Program History and Status
1. The OXCART programs concept began in July 1957
with a preliminary design study effort involving Lockheed
and Convair focusing on development of a follow-on to
the U-2 aircraft. In August l9G9 this study phaoo was
completed with a preliminary contract award to Lockheed.
In February 1960, a final go-ahead was authorized for the
development and manufacture of the Mach 3.2, 80,000 to
90,000 ft. altitude reconnaissance A-12 aircraft. These
and other program milestones are shown on Attachment I
for the A-12 and for the B-58 and the B-70.
2. Since the first flight of an OXCART A-t2 aircraft
on 28 April 1902, 1285 flights totalling 1847:06 hours have
been made, utilizing thirteen aircraft at the Nevada test
site. Of these totals, 828 flights accumulating 1030:13
hours were powered by the twin J58 engine installation.
3. Seven aircraft (including aircraft 124, the two
place trainer) are assigned to the' Detachment and are being
flown by the operational pilots. Four aircraft are assigned
to flight test. Two of the four flight test aircraft,
numbers 129 and 131 will be assigned to the Detachment
as operational aircraft by mid-1965. There are currently
seven civilian pilots qualified as operational pilots
for the Detachment.
4. To date the longest sustained flight for the A--12
with two J58 engines is 4:40 hours. The longest sustained
flight for the trainer aircraft #124 with two J75 engines
is 5:25 hours. The maximum speed achieved has been
Mach 3.27 and the maximum altitude has been 85,259 feet,
On 27 January 1965, aircraft 129 completed the first of a
series of long range, high speed flights
designed to demonstrate the maximum range caps y.
unuar 1
n~~aaA tram datomatlc
OXCART
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25X1
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OXCAF T
The total flight time for the mission was approximately
1:40 hours with approximately 1:15 hours above Peach 3.1.
Total range based on final flight data was 2530 nautical
miles at cruising altitudes between 75,600 feet and
80,800 foot.
25X1
5
A-12 came
ra systems Type I
.
Type I i
and Type IV
I
_j
are per
formin
g 25X1
satisfactorily within ho envelope of flig
ht experienced
to date. Over 100 camera flights have been made. No
eegradation of photography due to thermal gradients or
turbulence has yet been noted at speeds up to R1nch 2.90
and pressure altitudes of 80,000 feet. The camera system
goal is a resolution of one foot and cameras to date have
demonstrated this value.
6, The current primary effort is directed towards
a mid-September deployment of three A-12 aircraf t at
Itadona, Okinawa for overflying Far East Asia. Cperational
plans and manpower and equipment requirements are now
being formulated for this deployment. These A-12 aircraft,
specially designed with low radar cross sections to reduce
radar return, will be configured, in addition, with
specially developed countermeasures equipment.
OXCART
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OXCART
ATTACHMENT II TO
AIRCRAFT FLIGHT TEST SUMMARY
AIRCRAFT NO. FLIGHTS
HOURS
121 173 166:23
122 90 86:44
123* 79 136:10
124 324 571:05
125 120 177:40
126 80 123:00
127 102 147:35
128 79 132:25
129 93 99:45
130 75 .101:45
131 41 43; 42
132 40 52:35
133** 10 8:17
*Crashed 24 May 1963 -(Cause - Iced Pitot - Static tube
resulted in erroneous airspeed reading in the cockpit.
Pilot safely ejected.)
**Crashed 9 July 1964 - (Cause - Flight control system
outboard elevon servo valve stuck in the partially
open position. Pilot safely ejected.)
OXCART
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OXCART
ATTACHMENT III TO
J-58 ENGINE DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY
Total J-58 ground test hours
JT11D-20 Engine ground test hours
Engine ground test hours above Mach 2
Engine ground test hours at or above Mach 3
*Total Engine flight hours
Engine flight hours at or above Mach 3
*Includes AF-12 and R-12 as well as A-12
17,682 hours
14,744 hours
4,829 hours
3,744 hours
2,647 hours
46.5 hours
OXCART
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 Approved P Release 2006/02/07: CIA-RDP89B0G t R000600050024-8
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SUMMARY OF TIME AND FLIGHTS ABOVE MACH NO. NOTED
(As of 14 April 1965)
Aircraft
No.
2.0
2.6
2.8 3.0
3.2
121
30:45
14:08
8:20 4:31
:29 Hours
88
57
44 34
11 Flights
122
25:38
7:33
3:25 1:42
:21
71
32
22 9
2
123
:09
2
125
55:13
14:24
8:26
86
27
21
126
19:31
6:15
3:26
31
12
8
127
39:04
13:58
6:06
72
25
11
128.
43 : 57
12 : 37
9:20 :12
60
25
22 3
129
36:04
17:47
8:18 8:06
:34
80
59
29 24
6
130
22:50
8:01
5:05 :20
48
20
13 1
131
13:57
5:40
2:59 1:41
27
20
12 5
132
19:15
10:04
3 :20 :30
34
24
13 1
2:53
1:12
:57
7
7
4
OXCART
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OXCART
HEAT SOAK RECAPITULATION
2.0 606
309:16
2.6 308
111:39
2.8 199
59:42
3.0 77
16:02
3.2 19
1:24
OXCART
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