Did you know that in the military field, there is a bomber that is more expensive to build than an aircraft carrier, and the missiles can't catch up. The advantage is even more exaggerated - only one country in the world can make it.
At this point, many people may wonder: which bomber is this? In fact, it is the Valkyrie fighter (XB-70A). There is information that this huge flying weapon attracted widespread praise when it first flew in 1964 and set new world records for flight altitude and cruising speed.
However, one thing that is still unbelievable for such a pinnacle is that only 2 of the fighters were built in the end. For such a scale and data, it is even more puzzling, why is such a powerful fighter not equipped on a large scale?
In response to this problem, we must start with the birth of the Valkyrie fighter.
Speaking of the fighter, it is actually a product of the United States' response to the challenges of the Soviet Union's air defense system during the Cold War. As a high-speed, high-altitude strategic bomber, it was originally designed to achieve the ability to cruise at extremely high speeds and altitudes, making it almost impossible to intercept by ground-based missiles and enemy fighters.
However, in order to achieve this, the Valkyrie adopted a unique form design, as well as an advanced power system.
Shape design: It has to be said that the shape design of this fighter is indeed relatively unique, with a wide wingspan and a variable swept wing design, which allows it to adapt to the needs of different flight stages. This design allows it to reduce drag and improve flight efficiency when cruising at high speeds, while maintaining stability in the low-speed phase.
Powertrain: According to the information, it includes: four integrated turbo intake engines and two turbofan engines placed in the tail of the fuselage. This powertrain configuration is also a highlight, allowing it to reach supersonic flight speeds above the Mach 3 and cruise at altitudes of up to 70,000 feet. In fact, you can imagine that in that situation at that time, the fighter could have such high-speed and high-altitude flight performance, and it could indeed become the pinnacle of military aviation technology.
Therefore, no matter from which aspect of the analysis, the birth of the Valkyrie fighter is indeed a major breakthrough on the basis of the technical level at that time. In particular, its unique shape design and advanced power system endowed it with excellent flight performance, and eventually became one of the representatives of American military aviation technology during the Cold War.
Although, the Valkyrie fighter has many advantages, and the performance aspect is also self-evident. But that doesn't mean it's perfect. After all, in terms of this fighter, it will actually face a series of limitations and challenges, which are why it cannot be equipped on a large scale.
First of all, the Valkyrie fighter is extremely expensive to build, which is one of the first challenges it faces.
The manufacturing cost of each Valkyrie fighter, without exaggeration, was far more than the most advanced bombers of the time, and even, more expensive than aircraft carriers. From a practical point of view, due to the financial constraints and budgetary pressures of the US government, it is difficult to afford the cost of large-scale equipment of Valkyrie fighters.
Therefore, for such a high cost, it will indeed limit the scale and development of the Valkyrie project, and eventually become a constraint on its fate.
Secondly, although the performance of the Valkyrie fighter is excellent, its huge size and complex technical structure also bring great challenges to maintenance and operation.
The Valkyrie's large size and advanced technology greatly increased its maintenance cost and use risk, which was also one of the important reasons for its cancellation. For the military, warplanes with high maintenance and operating costs are actually not economically viable. Therefore, in this regard, it is also an important factor affecting the development of this fighter.
When we understand this, we can also know that the project of this fighter was forced to cancel, and only 2 prototypes were built. In fact, there are extenuating circumstances.
Although, the Valkyrie fighter was remarkable during the Cold War. However, the shortcomings of this period are the high cost of construction and complex maintenance, which eventually became a stumbling block to its fate.
It should be noted - the fighter did not fulfill its mission, though. However, its position in the history of military aviation technology is still unshakable, and its birth and disappearance have become a valuable experience in the development of military aviation.
The Valkyrie fighter, as a masterpiece of military aviation technology, although it only exists in the memory of history, its unique design and advanced performance are also breathtaking today. However, its short but glorious history also warns us that no matter how advanced the technology is, cost and practicality are also important factors that determine its fate.
It is believed that in the future development of military aviation, we also need to pay more attention to the sustainability and practicality of technology to ensure the long-term stability and security of military forces.