Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (ADP), also known as Skunk Works, revealed new information about their hypersonic technologies. Specifically, they discussed the successor to the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft. The SR-72 is a strike and reconnaissance aircraft. The SR-72 tops Mach 6, and is currently in development within the advanced aircraft-development division. According to Lockheed Martin statements to Aviation Week, hypersonic technologies, including a combined cycle propulsion system that blends a rocket engine and a supersonic jet engine, are sufficiently advanced to allow the planned SR-72 project to begin. A hypersonic successor to the SR-71 has been the ultimate goal for DARPA and the Air Force (USAF) since the early 2000s.
In 2013, the USAF, at last, announced that it had begun to design a scaled SR-72 demonstrator. Since that time, however, details about the program have been scarce, if the information was released at all. In 2006, Lockheed and Aerojet Rocketdyne formed a partnership. It was this alliance that led to the creation of the combined cycle engine, modified from an off-the-shelf turbine. Ground tests on a combined cycle engine built with elements of both a rocket engine and a scramjet were conducted between 2013 to 2017. The advanced aircraft division is also close to launching the full-scale development of a flight research vehicle (FRV) for either piloted or remote use. This FRV should be similar to an F-22 in size and have a backup full combined cycle propulsion system. Lockheed believes they will be flying an FRV in the early 2020s, while the SR-72 will probably be airborne by 2030. As more details and information about the first flights are revealed, we should see more of the fascinating details of the SR-72 soon. These hypersonic planes can travel at speeds of up to 4,800 km/hour (3,000 mph), making them the ideal transportation option for long-distance travel and global emergency response efforts.
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