Cold War Spy Drone: The US D-21 That Rivals Raced to Steal
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News18•26-01-2026, 17:24
Cold War Spy Drone: The US D-21 That Rivals Raced to Steal
- •The Lockheed Martin D-21 was a supersonic, unmanned reconnaissance aircraft developed by the US in the 1960s, capable of Mach 3.3 at 90,000 feet.
- •It was designed to photograph highly classified enemy nuclear installations without risking a pilot, operating beyond the reach of contemporary radars and missiles.
- •A D-21 crashed over China's Lop Nur nuclear test site between 1969-1971, leading to its recovery by Chinese authorities.
- •China reportedly shared parts of the wreckage with the Soviet Union, prompting 'Project Voron' to reverse-engineer the advanced US technology.
- •While neither Russia nor China fully replicated the D-21, they gained critical insights into ramjet propulsion, high-speed aerodynamics, and early stealth materials.
Why It Matters: The D-21 drone was a Cold War marvel, showcasing advanced US tech that rivals desperately tried to replicate.
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