The story of (Northrop?) TR3A "Black Manta"

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The story of (Northrop?) TR3A "Black Manta"

Sometimes there have been discussions that the mysterious TR3A "Black Manta" was a study project for the B-2 bomber.  That means that TR3A was used as the flying mockup for testing the aerodynamic and control solutions for the B-2 "Spirit" bomber. The thing that supports this thing is that the manufacturer of both planes is Northrop corporation. 

Along with "Aurora" was flying one other mysterious aircraft, TR3A "Black Manta". The system is described as the "Stealth VTOL" (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. Unless the mysterious TR3B, the Northrop TR3A is the conventional VTOL-aircraft, what is using regular jet engines, but what has the stealth-body. 

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The thing is that the stealth-reconnaissance aircraft, which uses a similar technology with the Northrop B-2 bomber would be an interesting part of the weapon arsenal. There is a possibility that the TR3A was the study project for the B-2 bomber, which is manufactured also by Northrop. 

So the "Black Manta" would be the miniaturized version of the B-2. And the purpose of the aircraft would be acting as a replacer of the F-117 "Nighthawk", what stealth-solutions might be old fashion. The fact about F-117 is that the aircraft attacks under the heavy ECM-transmission. So is the F-117 really stealth is a mystery. The concept is from the 1970s and after that, there have been many advantages in the materials and computer technology. The F-117 began its career as HAVE BLUE-project, and only one of those aircraft shot down by the enemy in Serbia. 

And the concept where is used many straight layers, what mission is to aim the electromagnetic radiation away from the transmitter is turned old-fashion when the soft curves became possible. The new carbon-fiber materials are making it possible to create more sophisticated solutions in the body of aircraft than ever before. 

Sources:

HAVE BLUE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Have_Blue

Lockheed F-117:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-117_Nighthawk

Northrop TR3A (TR3): https://military.wikia.org/wiki/TR-3_Black_Manta

Northrop-Grumman  B-2 "Spirit": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit

F-117 shootdown: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_F-117A_shootdown

Wired magazine article about this topic: https://www.wired.com/1994/02/stealth-watchers/

The image I: Pinterest

Image II: https://thespacereview.com/article/576/2