JO-1

The Lockheed JO‑1 was an experimental high‑performance jet introduced in the early 1960s as part of the U.S. Air Force’s quest for a fast, high‑altitude reconnaissance platform. First flown on 12 March 1963, the prototype incorporated a thin‑wing, supersonic airframe derived from the F‑104 Starfighter but stretched to accommodate a more powerful General Electric J79‑XI afterburning turbofan. The aircraft featured leading‑edge slats, a variable‑geometry inlet, and the first production‑grade fly‑by‑wire system employed by Lockheed, allowing unprecedented maneuverability at speeds above Mach 2.5. Its avionics suite combined a pulse‑Doppler radar with an early infrared line‑scan sensor, giving it the ability to collect intelligence over hostile territory while remaining out of reach of contemporary air‑defence missiles. Although only three JO‑1s were built before the program was cancelled in 1967 in favor of the Lockheed A‑12, the design’s structural innovations—use of honey‑comb aluminum alloy and titanium skins—and its digital flight‑control architecture directly informed later Lockheed successes such as the F‑117 Nighthawk and the F‑22 Raptor. The JO‑1 remains a milestone in the evolution of high‑speed, sensor‑laden aircraft. Its data‑link concepts also paved the way for modern unmanned combat aerial vehicles, underscoring its lasting impact on aerospace engineering.