Skunk Works Unveils SR-72

[DavidU]

Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works says the replacement it's proposing for the SR-71 spy plane, the SR-72, is a Mach 6 drone that doesn't need to be stealthy because it's so fast.
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Skunk-Works-Unveils-SR-72220910-1.html

It's been a long long time for something to out perform the SR-71, great stuff.

[Larryp]

That IS fast!

[AG Hybrid]

Great stuff?? A mach 6 unmanned killing machine is great stuff? Yeah very interesting science, but I'm sorry if I don't share your enthusiasm.

The American's haven't even used an F-22 Raptor in real world combat yet and they are already onto a drone that's practically too fast to be shot down? I wonder how much money it will cost developing and getting combat ready this machine.

China and Russia aren't going to dig this. This could lead to another arms race. Who can make the biggest, baddest, fastest unmanned killing machine.

We as a species spend far too much time and resources on discovering innovative ways to killing each other. :mad2: It makes me sad how the war machine is the most significant driver in scientific development.

Just imagine what NASA could achieve with the budget this thing will be getting if it comes to pass. Can always dream.

[DavidU]

I'm pointing out the flight technology, not the weapon side of things of course.

[renormalised]

Another little project for the (Lockheed) Skunk Works to draw attention away from their main technological "cash cow"....the Aurora spyplane. Mach 6 is fast but doesn't cut the mustard with the Aurora. The GOES West satellite, a few years ago, tracked (what they suspect was) the Aurora after it took off from Nevada and flew across the US. It leaves a contrail they call "donuts on a string"...it's due to its propulsion system which they believe is a methane/liquid H2 hybrid pulse engine. The contrail was of an aircraft flying at 150000 feet at a speed they estimated at around 8000mph. Of course, the DoD and the US Airforce deny such a plane exists, but there have been too many occurrences of sighted contrails, unusual sonic booms, a number of eyewitness accounts and overheard military radio traffic (an aircraft with the call sign "Dark Star" ) for it not to have some credible substance behind the reports. The Aurora is a manned aircraft. There's a possibility that they may have this SR72 as either a side project UAV spyplane or it maybe the new main project if the Aurora has been cancelled for some reason. A scale back of sorts. Or the Aurora may have been used as a technological demonstrator, a precursor to newer designs which the SR72 may be.

Adrian, I agree with you to a point. China and Russia are a good 30 years behind the US. They may try to emulate them but they have a long way to go and don't have the technology, yet, to build such a craft themselves. The F22 is a design which is at least 30 years old itself. The US Airforce have been looking for a replacement for the F15 in the air superiority role since at least the mid 90's. The F35 isn't all that much younger, itself. Ben Rich, the former VP of the Lockheed Skunks Works admitted as much himself, before he passed away in 1994, that they had developed technology which was that far ahead of the F22 and such that no one would believe it if they saw it. That no one would probably ever see any of it unless the need arose because of the secrecy behind it all. And if you're wondering how they fund it? Well, US DoD "misplaced" $2.3 trillion in unaccounted money between 1999-2001, and that isn't even the start of it. Earlier this year, they and a number of other departments had to account for more than $9 trillion which has gone "missing" in the last 5-10 years, but mostly from the DoD. They get away with it because those that are misappropriating the funds own the businesses involved, are supported by certain elements within the military and own the politicians involved. Plus, they have a largely ignorant and apathetic populace who's more interested in their reality TV and who wins the next world series than they are about what's going on.

[noeyedeer]

spy planes are a far cry from "killing machines". there's thousands of satellites with the same capabilities. maybe the world needs a new global conflict to kull the population back to a sustainable size .....

matt

[noeyedeer]

all this missing money...maybe another 9/11 is in order?

all the Sr-72 is, is a low altitude satellite and it's no where near as sexy as its counterpart.

I'm sure without U2 pics of the missiles in Cuba we probably wouldnt be here today. yet another spy plane killing machine. all they're armed with is cameras ... like a telescope and the Asian tourist ... omg killing machines!!

matt

[AG Hybrid]

Don't be so naive. With all the spy satellites America has at its disposal do they really need another spy plane? No. They will weaponize this thing to deliver a missile strike at Mach 6. Just like the "flying camera" drones are weaponized today.
Seriously get real.

[wasyoungonce]

Errr wrong....at that speed it would have to have internal stores and opening bay doors would be impossible unless slowed to ~700knts or less (probably 600knts)...they would be ripped off by air.

Which is pretty much impossible to occur due to the config of the engines. It uses ramjet for high speed operations and has to duct back to turbojet (or turbofan...these days) for low speed flight.

Like the SR71 it would just be a recon bird.

[wasyoungonce]

An ICBM's velocity is ~ 20,000 klms hr...why would they use an aircraft to fly in at 8,000 klms hr to deliver a strike that could be done at 21,000klms hr.

This thing is too expensive to risk...thus its a recon bird only.

[Larryp]

It would be flying faster than any missile it could launch, anyway.
And slowing it down to launch missiles would make itself vulnerable.

[ZeroID]

If you read the article it says it will be weaponised, missiles ....
Love the technology but hate the purpose..
I don't understand the need either ... maybe it's a red herring project. Gets the chinese and any others deflected on some wild goose chase to match and better ... who knows.
The Indians have launched to Mars ... they can't even feed their own people.

<sigh> I despair sometimes ....

[renormalised]

No it wouldn't, because the US has been developing hypervelocity attack and cruise missiles since the mid 90's.

To effectively shoot this down, you're going to have to deploy either lasers or particle beam weapons.

[Larryp]

I didn't know that :)

[wasyoungonce]

I do not see how it would launch without slowing down. Weapons would have to be internal. Launching weapons at hyper-velocity...lord I would like to see that pass flight certification tests.

It's just that this as a delivery method would be cost/design prohibitive ....cheaper options work more than good enough.
Regarding the purpose...yes it saddens me as well. USA spends way too much on military, they cannot afford it.

[Camelopardalis]

Conspiracy abound... doesn't that picture look like sketches of the mythical Aurora? And uses "off the shelf" technology that they already developed years ago ;)

The SR71 was developed in the 60s. We're to believe there's been nothing new since then? The truth is out there :D :D

[Kunama]

Amazing how quickly "we" have worked out that it is going to be weaponized, the type of weapons likely to be used, how they will be deployed and at what speed. Simply amazing and it has only been 15 hours and 40 minutes since Dave posted the thread.

Personally I am thankful for those minds that come up with this great stuff for I fear we would be speaking whatever language they speak in North Korea if it were not for the deterrent value of having the allies we have.

[Shark Bait]

I'm so wonewey. :whistle: :scared3:

[Karls48]

I will second that. What ever faults Americans have, I still prefer to live under their influence then some other superpower.

[Larryp]

Totally agree. The other thing to consider is that the cutting edge of military development filters down to civilian use, and ultimately we all benefit from the technology.

[Miaplacidus]

Doesn't Peter have one of these? Only his is red, I think.

[AG Hybrid]

Thank you.

[AG Hybrid]

This is the United States of America we are talking about. If there is a will to kill you, they will find a way, and they will do it with style. No body does weapons of war better.

Also, who would send an ICBM for a "precision"(I use that term loosely) strike? Not to mention what China and Russia will be thinking when they see one of those dooms day devices being put into the air.

[Kunama]

They'll be thinkin ..........:question: why didn't I think of that :question:

[Meru]

How can America send people to the moon when they let childern get decimated in schools?
How can Australia promote multiculturalism when its original history with aboriginals isn't told proudly like most other countries?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but next time you voice it, perhaps you should think twice before blurting it out in a public forum, be it on the web or in person. What makes you think they cant "feed their own people"? What makes you think that they are unhappy, that perhaps they don't own 60" LED TVs or don't have a V6 car? It is amazing how far most of these 'developing' countries have come, completely designing and executing geo synchronous satellites, GPS systems and sending their own space platforms to mars. Typical western thinking, to only think India only has starving people who should be fed... <Sigh>

Anyways lesson over, I think the SR-72 is a great development from a technological point of view. I don't like the idea of it's development being towards a war machine but if the SR-71 is anything to go by, one awesome machine!

[Camelopardalis]

Not sure about their style. Have you seen the boots they wear? :D

They're equally guilty of "borrowing" designs and expertise from their allies as much as their enemies, just building 'em on a bigger scale.