Thread: Self-Destruct mechanisms

The ejection handle will do a pretty good job of it most of the time.

U-2 had one AFAIK

Originally Posted by braindead

U-2 had one AFAIK

Yes, and allegedly set to explode on the moment of ejection Early radar and other sensitive equipment (such as IFF) were fitted with self destruct charges in some WW2 aircraft.

Remember that P-3 ELINT plane that collided with a Chinese fighter in 2001? I think I read somewhere that it had some self destruct mechanism for onboard electronics. The crew activated it and destroyed some other items by hand before landing in China.

For sensitive equipment like that there are ways to either destroy it or basically wipe it clean of anything useful. There are always procedures in place to take care of classified data/equipment, but that's not the same as an aircraft self-destruct.