There is unconfirmed information that suggests a new creation for the American air force. The SR-72 could be in production. It is a war machine with “unimaginable” technological resources.
SR-72 hypersonic plane will be an incredible weapon
While nothing has been confirmed yet, there are numerous indications that Lockheed Martin's long-awaited SR-72 hypersonic plane is already in production.
This advanced plane is supposed to be the successor to the legendary SR-71 Blackbird, although it is twice as fast, reaching Mach 6 (7,408.8 km/h). However, the only proof of its existence to date is a prototype called Darkstar, which was featured in the film Top Gun: Maverick.
From fiction to reality
An aircraft flying at hypersonic speeds is a distinct advantage in modern warfare. However, little is known about the capabilities of the SR-72 or its possible variants, although it is speculated that it could be a drone or a manned aircraft, or both.
One Hypersonic aircraft of this type would be capable of penetrating air defensesboth for espionage and for rapid intercontinental strikes that would be virtually, if not completely, unstoppable by existing surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries in Russia and China.
O Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a Mach 3+, long-range, high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft, which was developed and manufactured by the North American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. It was operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and NASA.
The signs
Both the aerospace and defense industry and specialized media have been insinuating for some time that the SR-72 production process has already begun.
A report from SandBoxx News, for example, he openly talks about this possibility. Although nothing has yet been confirmed, reports point to a feeling of optimism that the project is moving forward.
This does not mean that, as with the fighter NGAD new generation, the project is not being affected by budgetary problems.
Rendering of the SR-72 based on Lockheed Martin drawings (netrunner75/Deviant Art/CC3.0)
The problems appear to result, in large part, from the high costs associated with the development of advanced hypersonic technologies, which have led to the program to record excess costs of 335 million dollars from 2022.
These costs, combined with the confidential status of the program at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, mean it competes for limited funds with other high-priority defense projects. This financial pressure may delay development or require the reduction of certain capabilities to avoid exceeding budget.
However, recently, significant advances have been made in thermal science and the materials that make this hypersonic flight possible.
The Army and Air Force Research Laboratories are actively experimenting with new materials, such as ceramics, metals and polymers, that can withstand the extreme temperatures generated at hypersonic speeds.
Progress is also being made in the study of aerodynamic turbulence, which is fundamental to the stability of travel at these speeds. These analyzes require sophisticated wind tunnels, where China has a clear advantage.
Then there's the cameo in Top Gun: Maverick. As Warrior Maven notes, the appearance of an aircraft with characteristics identical to the SR-72 appears to be a calculated choice that suggests that the SR-72 is not only real, but is possibly in an advanced stage of development.
The decision to tie the film to the SR-72 concept in such a public and high-profile way could be seen as a subtle announcement that the technology may be moving from concept to reality, they say.
What is known about the SR-72
If the rumors are confirmed and the SR-72 becomes reality, it will be capable of flying at more than Mach 3 and evading missiles from air defense shieldsthanks to its speed. The plane will be the replacement for the SR-71, which was removed from service in the 1990s.
This iconic plane left a gap in the capabilities of the Pentagon, which focused on satellites as a location tool.
Brad Leland, Lockheed Martin's program director in 2013, said at the time that “the speed this plane can reach would be the next big advance in aviation to combat emerging threats in the coming decades.”
In addition to its astonishing speed, the SR-72 was designed to carry hypersonic weaponry, which would allow it to carry out strikes with unprecedented precision and speed. However, Developing missiles that can be launched at speeds of Mach 6 is an unprecedented challenge.
Only China was able to do this. Since 2021, the Pentagon has claimed that Beijing has a new hypersonic weapon that has “pushed the limits of physics.”
American military experts claim that the China not only launched hypersonic vehicle capable of maneuvering at five times the speed of soundbut that this hypersonic vehicle also launched its own hypersonic missile in mid-flight.
This is an unprecedented and inexplicable fact, these sources claim.
US intelligence agencies have been following the Wu-14 more than a year ago and gained valuable information about China's hypersonic weapon.
If it is true that the SR-72 is already in advanced production, that is because Lockheed engineers were able to overcome significant technological challenges.
At hypersonic speeds of Mach 6, air friction generates extreme heat that traditional materials cannot withstand.
We know that the company is working in partnership with Aerojet Rocketdyne to find solutions to this problem, exploring advanced materials such as high-performance ceramics and carbon-based alloys that can withstand high temperatures without compromising the integrity of the aircraft.
In short, will the SR-72 prove that fiction has finally caught up with reality... or is it just a paper plane flying through Hollywood dreams?
Source: pplware.sapo.pt
