Summary and Key Points: Lockheed Martin’s SR-72, dubbed the “Son of Blackbird,” aims to revolutionize reconnaissance and strike capabilities with speeds exceeding MACH 6.
-Scheduled potentially for 2030, this unmanned hypersonic aircraft would outpace current air defenses, providing vital intelligence for future sixth-generation fighters like the F-47 and stealth bombers like the B-21 Raider.
-Utilizing advanced turbine-based combined-cycle propulsion, the SR-72 will handle extreme heat and flight stresses.
-It might also carry hypersonic weapons, enhancing its battlefield impact. Despite engineering challenges and enemy advancements, the SR-72 remains critical for future military strategy, promising rapid global response and unmatched intelligence-gathering power for decades ahead.
The SR-72 Darkstar Might Hit Mach 6 or More
You’ve heard about hypersonic missiles, but what about a hypersonic airplane? That’s what the U.S. Air Force is envisioning for the SR-72 “Son of Blackbird.” We can only discern the future of this blisteringly fast unmanned aircraft through clues dribbling out.
But we know the Air Force would like it to fly at MACH 6 or above. This hot rod could then outlast all known air defenses around the world and arrive to snoop out battlefield developments anywhere at any time.
Targeting for Next-Generation Warplanes in the U.S. Fleet
The SR-72 is all about intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. It could reach hot spots around the globe in a matter of hours. We can expect the SR-72 to fly missions in 2030 if reports of its development can be believed. But even if the spy bird doesn’t deploy until 2035 or later, it gives the U.S. military many options to seek out future ground targets for American sixth-generation stealth fighters such as the F-47 and the F/A-XX. Don’t forget the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber that would love to exploit SR-72 intel.
This Airplane Can Be Decisive in Battle
Plus, it will give intelligence analysts a way to prepare the battlefield and identify the crucial “center of gravity” of enemy forces. This could place the Americans in a winning posture against Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Not to mention collecting recon data on extremist terrorists.
However, the enemy is also developing hypersonic missiles that could catch the SR-72, which means the United States and its adversaries are playing a cat-and-mouse game. Just how fast must the SR-72 be to stay protected at ultra-high altitudes? Will MACH 6 be fast enough for future spying? Lockheed Martin is working hard to answer those questions.
Skunk Works Is Locked In
The SR-72 concept has been around at Lockheed Martin since 2013. We can be sure that the mammoth defense contractor’s famous Skunk Works has been involved over the last 12 years. The SR-72 is around 90 feet long and will be uncrewed. It will go twice as fast as its “daddy,” the SR-71.
Scramjet or Ramjet?
Skunk Works is toiling on a scram jet engine or a supersonic combustion ramjet engine with Aerojet Rocketdyne for this eye-watering speed. Engineers and designers are going to have their hands full. The powerplant will need to push that MACH 6 speed without endangering the airframe, and the high altitude will take its toll on the aircraft. These flight characteristics will generate overwhelming heat that could jeopardize the fuselage. However, workers know these limitations and are designing a system allowing the recon bird to fly at low speeds when needed to reduce heat.
“The SR-72 is expected to use a TBCC [turbine-based combined cycle] system, employing a turbine for low speeds and a scramjet for high speeds, using the same air intakes and nozzles but with two distinct air conduits,” according to AeroContact.com.
The Son of Blackbird may use coating materials that resemble a ballistic missile. Let that sink in: an airplane similar to an ICBM with speeds that would make a remote-control pilot extremely excited to fly.
It Could Serve as a Bomber, Too
Reconnaissance is the primary mission, but the SR-72 could be armed with the military’s next-generation High-Speed Strike Weapon. This system is so secret that it doesn’t appear on Lockheed Martin’s website, which is usually pretty transparent. You can bet the High-Speed Strike Weapon is hypersonic and can evade air defenses like no other plus-MACH 5 weapon. It will probably be powered by a next-generation scram jet.
The SR-72 will have to survive in flight to make this weapon a reality. If the enemy shot one down, it would be a public relations nightmare akin to when American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was downed by the Soviet Union in 1960.
Let’s Slow Down to Keep Mistakes to a Minimum
There is no room for error. The Lockheed Martin timeframe for Son of Blackbird may be optimistic. Reports of the first flight in 2028 would be an excellent development if true, but will all kinks be out of the aircraft by then?
A test flight in three years would allow it to be on track to be fully operational by 2030. That seems like some rapid development. It may be better for Lockheed Martin to spend time with the Son of Blackbird. A crash would set the project back significantly. Engineers are undoubtedly aware of the risks, and they are toiling hard to ensure it does not melt in flight or be shot down like Powers’ U-2.
All told, the SR-72 is one exciting spy plane. Yes, satellite imagery has overtaken high-speed recon flights by manned jets, even though the U-2 is still in service today. But with the uncrewed feature, there would be no pilot to be imprisoned by the enemy.
That is a selling point. The powerplant is uber secret and will evolve in the coming years. It may be better to allow for a longer production period to ensure no mistakes are made. You can believe this is a high priority for Lockheed, and it will be interesting to track the Son of Blackbird’s progress over the next five to ten years.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
