The Lockheed Martin SR-72, otherwise called the “Son of Blackbird,” is going to be able to transform the aero-reconnaissance and strike capabilities in the future. Again, building off its predecessor, the SR-71 Blackbird, the SR-72 is going to easily reach unimagined speed and operations by large margins compared with legacy systems, more so than their precursors.
The SR-71 Blackbird was developed in the 1960s as the fastest manned aircraft ever built and still is. With a speed of a little over Mach 3, above Mach 3.56, and altitudes of 85,000 feet, this plane was nearly impervious during its operational period from 1966 to 1999 because of its speed, altitude, and partial stealth features. However, the SR-72 is to outperform all these performances with its hypersonic ability.
This is an extremely ambitious project that the “Skunk Works” of Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs are busily working on. Reports indicate that the SR-72 will be an unmanned hypersonic stealth reconnaissance and strike vehicle with an expected speed of more than Mach 5 from its turbofan/scramjet combination engines. Such a propulsion system would allow the SR-72 to outrun modern missile defenses, so it would never be vulnerable.
Technically, the development of the SR-72 is quite a challenge because of problems with materials that can resist heat and in engine design. At hypersonic speed, the airframe of the aircraft will be subjected to very high temperatures, which reach as high as those that melt conventional materials. Engineers are working on advanced composite materials, such as high-performance ceramics and carbon-metal mixes, to resolve this issue. Another challenge is that the very high operating temperature of this aircraft could compromise its stealth features, making it easily detectable by enemy radar systems.
Another critical challenge to the SR-72 would have to be the propulsion system. The conventional turbofan engines are not credible solutions for extended hypersonic cruise and will therefore need a turbine-based combined cycle propulsion system. In this case, it combines with a turbofan engine at lower speeds with a scramjet at hypersonic speed to achieve and sustain flight over Mach 5.
Though all the above factors seem to oppose it, there are pointers to the fact that the SR-72 program is advancing. According to Vago Muradian, editor-in-chief of the Defense & Aerospace Report, there has been a hint that the prototype may have already been delivered to the USAF; a possible test flight could be set in 2025. On this schedule, if all goes well, the SR-72 could enter service by 2030—right in line with the USAF hypersonic roadmap.
The development of the SR-72 is not without financial concerns. Historical precedents of cost overruns and delays, as seen with the F-35 Lightning II, cast a shadow over the budgetary feasibility of this project. The strategic advantage that could be given by a hypersonic reconnaissance and strike aircraft might justify such an investment.
In a nutshell, the Lockheed Martin SR-72 is an ambitious vision to represent the future of aerial warfare. That said, if this hypersonic marvel could be developed with success, it would redefine the capability of the USAF in ensuring its dominance over skies for generations to come.