PROJECT 8709

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00789R000300550003-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 5, 1998
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: August 25, 1987
• Content Type: NOTES

VA, pqoved For Release 2000/08/08: CIA- P96-00789R000300550003-6
SOURCE 00::!!,' 25 Aug 87
The boc:ly c.:)r" wing conformation of this aircraft is changed to
enhance performance. The concept is to minimize the number " of
c:::c:iritr?c::;l surfaces and ss'L."t:::'riiY):I.i.r)e the c.:ont'r`'ol ii.nt.:ac.:jes 'L'.hr"c.:)ucjh the
use of o':I. r.::tr"ca-'-oi::)t. i. c type, connectors. The metallurgical.
principles involved in the construction of the aircraft are novel.
in that they involve the use of laminates and metal bonding "like
t..:.. ? Y ' 1 o n on a I : : i a s ri "p the process allows for h i g h strength, low
weight, flexibility, range survivability and low signatures. The
overall design sacrifices maneuverability for 'L' h e s e advantages.
The US aircraft is complex, time consuming to produce, and barely
out
the experimental stages. l- t Is.e This aircraft t s scarrii::. ' sort c:; ?r f..,c:?:,r?:!.rnc:::'ri't:.t:a.l. has tar.. t. of
erosion problem. It is better constructed, quieter, and has a
longer range capability than its Soviet counterpart.
The c:::i:?'t_tr)'t:.ie.r?::;lair?'L aircraft . has ts; a _ '].. It slopes back
, < : r, irit_:I].c:?. tail.
.1. I"1 a curved and re-curved manner, shaped somewhat like a ss.t:Li::jh'L
hourglass with two engines. It is more rigid than the first
aircraft and has a greater metal content. In essence it is
t:: 3. i..l r i) s :l. ei:? r since it was developed from an existing but older
"
design.
cables rca'L.L"I~::' than Steel I ' ' t ' . t ) r i