| Nose Section |
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| The primary imaging sensor for the SR-71 was located in the nose of the aircraft. It was either a photographic camera or a radar imaging camera. The photographic camera, a high- resolution Optical Bar Camera (OBC), was used for taking panoramic photographs. The side looking radar system, known as the CAPRE (Capability Reconnaissance, pronounced "caper"), provided all-weather, day/night imagery. In 1986, this radar system was replaced by the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS), which provided imagery of extreme clarity. The entire nose section of the SR-7 contained either sensor and was removed and replaced after each operational mission. |
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| © Copyright Richard Graham |
