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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GeorgeA" data-source="post: 227555" data-attributes="member: 365">While reading through a couple of USAF history documents mentioned in various threads on SPF, I came across a couple of interesting references to obscure interceptor concepts.In <a href="http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a166724.pdf">The Search For An Advanced Fighter, A History From The XF-108 To The Advanced Tactical Fighter</a>, the author mentions an MX-1554 follow-on in the context of the "1954 Ultimate Interceptor" discussion, that is essentially a faster YF-12:The Air Force sought an interceptor to counter the perceived 1960 bomber threats of Mach 2.0 speed at 61,000 feet, and the revised 1963 bomber threats of Mach 2.2 to 2.7 speed at 65,000 feet (118:7,32; 114:Ch 2). Design studies to satisfy these requirements began in 1953 at Air Research and Development Command and in industry with the MX1554 designed to achieve a Mach 4.5, 150,000 pound , gross takeoff weight aircraft, but the aircraft appeared to be beyond the state of the art (118:7,Fi5 24).The key reference is unfortunately in a USAF document that is partially classified.In <a href="http://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/FOIA/History%20of%20Air%20Defense%20Weapons,%201946-1962.pdf">The History of Air Defense Weapons 1945-1962</a>, the author mentions a post-F-108 program called LRAPIS that was, to say the least, highly ambitious:Following disillusionment with the F-I08, ADC began, in October 1960, to work on the specifications for another advanced long-range manned interceptor (involving what ADC described as a "quantum jump" in interceptor performance) designed to cope with a new family of threats that not even the F-I08 could be expected to handle. These new threats included air-launched ballistic missiles (ALBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), Boost Glide Vehicles and Intercontinental Cruise Missiles (ICCM). This advanced interceptor was initially known as LRAPIS, for Long Range Advanced Piloted Interceptor System. The ADC Plans organization estimated that this aircraft would have to be capable of a speed of Mach 5 and an altitude of 200 miles. Asked for an unofficial opinion on such a vehicle, WADD agreed that development of the LRAPIS was technically feasible, but that the difficulties would be great. In the first place, WADD didn't believe it could be developed by the target date of 1966, but that 1970-72 would be more logical. Furthermore, it would have to be extremely large (about the size of a B-70), which would probably limit its use as a fast-reaction interceptor. Finally, the cost was likely to be astronomical. Despite this somewhat negative response, ADC continued to feel a need for a long-range manned interceptor beyond the F-101B. As of the summer of 1962, the LRAPIS had evolved into the Improved Manned Interceptor (IMI). USAF and DOD had expressed interest in such a vehicle, but approval for development had not yet been received .</blockquote>

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