A-12 Oxcart

The A-12 Oxcart was a high-speed, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft developed in the 1960s for the U.S. CIA and Air Force. Designed to gather intelligence covertly, it could fly faster and higher than most planes, making it difficult to intercept or shoot down. Built with stealth features and advanced materials, the A-12 could reach speeds over Mach 3 and operate at altitudes above 80,000 feet. Its primary role was spying and surveillance during the Cold War, laying the groundwork for future stealth aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird. The A-12 was operated until the early 1990s, primarily for reconnaissance missions.