Supporting the existence of such an aircraft. The Public RecordĪpart from press reports, there is essentially no open-source information One could thus infer that TR-3A data were not distributed widely for Saudi Arabian air force Northrop RF-5s were requested to augment USAF RF-4C Protected by limiting it to F-117A support. More recently, they are believed to have supported F-117A operations inĭuring Operation Desert Storm, the TR-3A's secret identity could have been Several TR-3As areīelieved to have been deployed temporarily to Alaska, Britain, Panama and Initial TR-3As are collected withį-117As, although housed separately in larger hangars. "About 25-30 of the special reconnaissance aircraft -ĭesignated the TR-3A 'Black Manta' - could be placed in service eventually,īased at Holloman AFB, NM, and Tonapah, Nev. The TR-3A, if it exists, may have a slightly larger planform, possibly up toĤ2 feet long with a 60-65 foot wingspan. To determine whether any vertical control surfaces jut from the aircraft's back. Because of their vantage point, ground observations were unable Quietly than the muffled General Electric F-404 powerplants on the Stealthįighter, which may explain how an aircraft of this type could elude detectionįor some time. The aircraft has been reportedly observed flying with KC-135 aerial tankers,į- 117 stealth fighters and T-38 aircraft. TR-3A reportedly has a range of more than 5,000 kilometers and the ability to Photo information directly to F-117As for immediate tactical applications. That the aircraft was designed to collect and transmit near-real-time digital Many sources suggested the existence of a subsonic stealthy recconnaissanceĪircraft, which is reportedly designated the TR-3A, although its actualĭesignation and mission remain unclear. This program was subsequently de-scoped into the "Tier 3 minus" which produced the "DarkStar" unmanned drone. The "TR-3" designator was a badly-garbled version of the "Tier 3" designation for the secret "QUARTZ" program that was ultimately canceled.
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