Key Points on SR-72 – Lockheed Martin’s SR-72 “Darkstar”—the hypersonic successor to the legendary SR-71 Blackbird—is shrouded in secrecy. Expected to reach Mach 6 (twice the speed of the SR-71), it combines advanced stealth with unprecedented speed, making it nearly impossible to intercept.
-Using revolutionary turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion technology, the SR-72 will efficiently transition from lower speeds to hypersonic velocities.
-Unlike its predecessor, it will also carry precision-guided munitions, capable of lethal strikes against heavily defended targets.
-In development since 2013, the SR-72 could dramatically enhance U.S. ISR and strike capabilities if it enters service in the 2030s, revolutionizing future aerial combat and reconnaissance missions.
Mach 6: The SR-72 Looks to Be a Real Game Changer
The SR-72 is one of the most secretive projects currently in development.
Often called the “Darkstar” based on its portrayal in the film Top Gun Maverick (the plane doesn’t actually have a codename yet), the SR-72 promises to be a worthy successor to the iconic SR-71 Blackbird.
Developed by Lockheed Martin, very little is currently known about this aircraft aside from some breadcrumbs left us by the developers.
With everything we do know, here are five interesting facts that we currently know about the SR-72 “Darkstar.”
SR-72: It Can Reach Hypersonic Speeds
The SR-72 is designed to fly at hypersonic speeds, reaching up to Mach 6, which is approximately 4,000 miles per hour (6,400 kilometers per hour). This is twice as fast as its predecessor, the SR-71 Blackbird, which could reach speeds of Mach 3.2.
The ability to travel at such high speeds would allow the SR-72 to cover vast distances in a short amount of time, making it an invaluable asset for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Its predecessor, the SR-71, was the fastest manned aircraft ever built but the SR-72 promises to be so much more. While the blackbird was ultimately beaten by satellites, spy satellites now have a key disadvantage: they are in orbit.
Being in orbit, potential adversaries are able to predict when spy satellites will overfly areas they would like to keep private.
Modern-day military bases are built to provide overhead coverage as much as possible to prevent overhead espionage, so with calculative orbits, it’s easy to hide sensitive material before satellites pass by.
The SR-72 is able to fly freely and unpredictably without being detected by its enemies.
It Utilizes an Advanced Propulsion System
Very little is known about the SR-72’s engine system.
It is expected to utilize a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion system. This system integrates a turbine engine for lower speeds and a scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) for higher speeds.
The TBCC system allows the aircraft to operate efficiently across a wide range of speeds, from subsonic to hypersonic. The scramjet technology is particularly crucial for achieving and maintaining hypersonic speeds, as it allows for combustion at supersonic airflow velocities.
Combining Stealth and Speed
Unlike traditional stealth aircraft that rely primarily on radar-evading technologies, the SR-72 combines speed with stealth. The aircraft’s hypersonic speed makes it incredibly difficult to intercept or target, as it can quickly outrun threats.
SR-72 Darkstar. Image Credit: Lockheed Matin with AI enhancement.
SR-72 Darkstar or SR-71 Son of Blackbird. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
This combination of speed and stealth enhances its ability to penetrate heavily defended airspace and gather critical intelligence without being detected.
The SR-72’s speed makes it difficult for enemy radars to detect and track. Hypersonic objects like missiles are more difficult to detect based on their launch trajectory and speed.
Launching an object, like a ballistic missile, into space gives radar, which can see beyond the earth’s curvature, more time to detect the object.
Hypersonic weapons, even at altitude, are able to avoid detection for longer, and combined with their speed, this gives a potential enemy limited time to react to their presence.
Can Be Used for ISR and Strike Missions
The SR-72 is designed to play a significant role in future military operations. Its hypersonic capabilities would enable rapid response to emerging threats and provide real-time intelligence to decision-makers.
Additionally, the SR-72 could be equipped with advanced sensors and communication systems, further enhancing its ISR capabilities. The aircraft’s speed and agility would also make it suitable for strike missions, delivering precision-guided munitions to high-value targets.
The SR-71 could fly fast, but it could only take pictures. Its successor is not only more technologically advanced, boosting its ISR capabilities, but it can also deliver lethal strikes against enemy targets when necessary.
We don’t know what type of munitions the SR-72 will carry, they could be traditional precision munitions or there could be special ordinances specifically made for the SR-72.
Either way, a hypersonic aircraft capable of carrying out precision strikes adds a lot of versatility to the U.S.’ arsenal.
In the Works since 2013
Lockheed Martin proposed the SR-72 concept in 2013, with plans to have a test vehicle ready by 2025.
The development of the SR-72 involves significant technological advancements, particularly in propulsion and materials science.
Engineers are exploring the use of high-performance composites, such as carbon, ceramic, and metal mixes, to withstand the extreme temperatures generated at hypersonic speeds.
SR-71 Blackbird. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
If successful, the SR-72 could enter service in the 2030s, providing the U.S. military with a cutting-edge reconnaissance platform.
In 2013, a demonstrator was originally planned to be released as early as 2018. The first flight was originally planned for 2023.
As of now, there have been no glimpses of the demonstrator, and the test flight was rescheduled from 2023 to 2025.
The United States Air Force, for its part, has already said it has tested potential future generations of combat aircraft planned for introduction in 2030, though it is unclear whether the SR-72 fell under this category.
About the Author:
Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
