Project Oxcart

Project Oxcart was a classified U.S. Cold War program during the 1950s and early 1960s to develop high-speed, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft capable of gathering intelligence over hostile territory. The project led to the creation of the Lockheed A-12, a supersonic jet designed to fly faster and higher than existing planes, making it difficult for enemy defenses to intercept. Oxcart played a crucial role in advancing aerial espionage technology, helping the U.S. monitor international developments covertly during a tense period of global rivalry. It laid the groundwork for later strategic reconnaissance aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird.