Faster Than Missiles, Flown By No One: The US Cold War Weapon Rivals Wanted To Steal

Last Updated:January 26, 2026, 17:24 IST

At a time when computer technology was still in its infancy, the US developed an unmanned, supersonic reconnaissance aircraft capable of flying at three times the speed of sound

At an altitude of 90,000 feet, far beyond the reach of conventional radars and missiles of its time, a soundless presence once crossed hostile skies. This is the story of the Lockheed Martin D-21, a technological marvel of the 1960s that even many modern drones struggle to match. At a time when computer technology was still in its infancy, the United States developed an unmanned, supersonic reconnaissance aircraft capable of flying at three times the speed of sound.

The twist came when this top-secret US asset unexpectedly fell into enemy territory, triggering a high-stakes reverse-engineering race between Russia and China that reshaped Cold War intelligence dynamics.

D-21’s capabilities that astonished the world

King of Speed: Its top speed was around 3,200 kmph (Mach 3.3).Unmatched Altitude: The drone could operate at nearly 90,000 feet, allowing it to photograph highly classified enemy nuclear installations.Range: With an operational range of about 5,550 kilometres, the D-21 was effectively an intercontinental spy platform.Cost: Each D-21 reportedly cost around $5.5 million at the time, roughly Rs 350-400 crore in today’s terms.History’s first stealth drone: Its unique design and radar-absorbent materials made it largely invisible to contemporary air-defence systems.

D-21 and the Russia-China ‘theft’: 5 key questions and answers

Question 1: How did China acquire this secret US drone?

Between 1969 and 1971, a D-21 suffered a technical failure during a reconnaissance mission over China’s Lop Nur nuclear test site and crashed in a remote forested region. Chinese authorities recovered the wreckage.

Question 2: How did its technology reach Russia (the Soviet Union)?

China reportedly shared parts of the recovered debris with the Soviet Union. After examining the remains, Soviet engineers launched ‘Project Voron’ to develop a ramjet-powered drone inspired by the US design.

Question 3: What did Russia and China gain from reverse engineering?

While neither country succeeded in fully replicating the D-21, they gained crucial insights into advanced ramjet propulsion, high-speed aerodynamics, and early stealth materials used by the US.

Question 4: What role did this drone play in the Cold War?

The D-21 was designed to secretly capture high-resolution images of nuclear facilities and missile sites in the Soviet Union and China, without risking the life of a pilot.

Question 5: How did this drone return after completing its mission?

The D-21 did not land. After completing its reconnaissance run, it ejected its camera module into the sea using a parachute. This payload was recovered mid-air by US aircraft, after which the remaining drone was programmed to self-destruct.

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