Ferry noses had no need for DEF systems and so didn't have the bulges. The dents are there to provide a proper thickness window for DEF systems. It shows the fairing removed from the area in question, revealing a light/off-white/silvery disc positioned at the aft end of the cutout. As mentioned in the reddit thread, the SR-71 itself did not carry the large radar illustrated - the picture is actually of a YF-12, but close enough for our purposes here, as the other element in the picture is clearly identifiable as lying within the cut-out, and consistent with the manual's description of the DEF A2 system receive antenna. The picture there is not attributed, and at any rate, is too large to upload here. There's an illustration without explanation on a reddit thread: Someday have the ability to reach the SR-71 from behind since itĬarried no aft facing defensive countermeasures. There was also the possible threat that future ground defenses would Also alluded to in this article about a one-off SR-71 development for countering an eventual hole in the defense strategy: To the SR-71, a threat not already in the forward cone is simply not a threat. This is consistent with the SR-71's primary defense characteristic, that being speed to outrun all threats. Note that the manual is silent on rear-facing sensors. Direct link to the imaged page from the manual: This manual is linked from the wikipedia article on the SR-71 as refs 72-75. The transmit antennas may also be visible in the OP's picture on the underside of the A/C, but hard to say. The receive antennas are located aft of cut-outs on the left and right nose chines. Those indents are cut-outs for the "DEF A2" radar warning and ECM system.
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