Lockheed YF-12 | Cool but expensive

The Lockheed YF-12 is a high-speed interceptor created by the Lockheed Skunk Works division on the basis of the A-12 reconnaissance aircraft, ordered by the United States Air Force in the early 1960s. The breakthrough solutions and design of the A-12, as well as the developments of the never-created North American XF-108 Rapier, made it possible to create an interceptor with outstanding capabilities, flight speeds three times faster than the speed of sound and the most advanced weaponry. However, the unique capabilities had their price and at the stage of testing of 3 prototypes it became clear that the mass use of future F-12s would be incredibly expensive. For this reason, already at the end of the 1960s, the program was, in fact, closed. However, the YF-12 became a research platform that provided the basis for many other programs, both scientific and military. Thank you for watching! If you want to support Skyships and our work, welcome to our Patreon. We will create some special c