Lockheed Martin Reveals SR-72, the SR-71 Successor

The Aurora was probably using some derivative of the SR-71 engine.

If it has been using SR-72 type Mach 6 engines for the past twenty years, we would already have seen the technology somewhere else.

Skywatcher said:

The Aurora was probably using some derivative of the SR-71 engine.

If it has been using SR-72 type Mach 6 engines for the past twenty years, we would already have seen the technology somewhere else.

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Not necessarily. Just depends on how cost effective they are to operate for those other applications.

The rumor for years has been that the "doghnuts on a rope" contrails assocaited with the top secret aircraft many think is a part of the Aurura project (which many believe is a two-plane program, one very fast and high flying aircraft launched from the back of the larger aircraft, which itself is suitable for recon and surveillance) is a Pulse Wave Detonation Engine, (PWDE), and is pretty exotic and probably not suited for a lot of other applications.

But, you are correct too, because that type engine is certainly not what they are talking about for the SR-72.

Maybe in 20 more years we will know a lot more. LOL!

Seems like this is built for a slightly different role than the SR-71 since it could carry weapons payload. Might even convert it to an ASAT platform if they really tried. High altitude flight really cuts down on the air resistance.

siegecrossbow said:

Seems like this is built for a slightly different role than the SR-71 since it could carry weapons payload. Might even convert it to an ASAT platform if they really tried. High altitude flight really cuts down on the air resistance.

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A12 the predecessor to the SR71 was slated to act as both a intelligence bird and a interceptor only the intelligence bird was ever built.

Aside from recon, I wouldn't be surprised if this bird or a variation of it was also designed to carry nukes. I know the USAF have always wanted a hypersonic nuclear capable bomber but the tech was never there until recently. Unlike ballistic missiles, a bomb or missile dropped from a hypersonic stealth plane or any plane for that matter is almost impossible to intercept.

kwaigonegin said:

Aside from recon, I wouldn't be surprised if this bird or a variation of it was also designed to carry nukes. I know the USAF have always wanted a hypersonic nuclear capable bomber but the tech was never there until recently. Unlike ballistic missiles, a bomb or missile dropped from a hypersonic stealth plane or any plane for that matter is almost impossible to intercept.

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Also, unlike ICBMs, this hypersonic weapon, traveling at very high speed (though not as fast as an ICBM) can be recalled.

Jeff Head said:

Also, unlike ICBMs, this hypersonic weapon, traveling at very high speed (though not as fast as an ICBM) can be recalled.

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.. and I might like to adds less chance of a retaliatory no holds bared full scale nuclear exchange! An SR-72/Aurora etc dropping a nuke (small yield one) on a location while a huge deal may not necessarily trigger a nuclear war however an ICBM or SLBM launch will increase the odds of a retaliatory strike exponentially. Any current ICBM and SLBM launch can easily be detected by OTH radar even in the early or mid boost phase and well before first stage vehicle seperation.

This type of weapon system opens up another option that may not exist today. A Mach 6-8 'bomber' is also useful for single surgical strike missions w/o the need for air cover or needing air supremacy before establishing bomber runs. You can be in and out of country in 5 minutes or less. A B2 while difficult to detect is still slow and every second spent in country increases the odds of detection and shoot down.

Lockheed Martin is also working on the High Speed Strike Weapon (HSSW) project for the US Air Force. It is a hypersonic missile to be launched from bombers or strike aircraft...and perhaps from whatever the SR-72 develops into.

Lockheed Martin also released a new picture of that design this last week.

Legendary SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane successor Unveiled

Lockheed Martin’s famed Skunk Works has finally unveiled the long-awaited . The new airplane will be roughly the same size as the record-setting Blackbird, but will be able to fly twice as fast as the jet that still holds the speed records.

Re: Legendary SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane Unveiled

emilymainzer said:

Lockheed Martin’s famed Skunk Works has finally unveiled the long-awaited

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. The new airplane will be roughly the same size as the record-setting Blackbird, but will be able to fly twice as fast as the jet that still holds the speed records.

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How is this relevant here? Is Lockheed working for the Chinese government?

P.S. I wonder how LockMart's magical 'concurrency' will work out for this project. Yikes.