The SR-72 Aircraft of the U.S. Air Force Will Become the Fastest Plane Ever Developed with a Speed of 6,437 km/h.
Design of the SR-72 “Son of Blackbird”. (Photo: Lockheed Martin/Wikimedia Commons)
According to a report by Interesting Engineering on January 2, the highly anticipated supersonic unmanned aircraft from Lockheed Martin, SR-72 “Son of Blackbird,” is expected to make its first flight in 2025. As a top-secret project of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), the SR-72 is designed to reach speeds exceeding 6,437 km/h, making it the fastest aircraft ever developed. The vehicle is likely to serve similar functions to its predecessor, the SR-71 “Blackbird.”
The SR-72 is considered the successor to the SR-71 “Blackbird”, which set a speed record in 1974 and was retired in 1998 after holding the title of the fastest manned aircraft. The SR-72 is an unmanned, reusable supersonic aircraft, with its core functions including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.
The combat capabilities of this aircraft make it ideal for attacking targets in hostile environments where manned aircraft are too slow and present a high risk. Reports indicate that the vehicle can fire hypersonic weapons faster than any other system and achieve hypersonic speeds instantly. Additionally, it can maintain high speeds for longer durations. The SR-72 is similar in size to the SR-71, measuring over 30 meters in length. The aircraft is expected to be operational by 2030. Achieving speeds over 6,437 km/h is crucial for the military as it allows them to reach destinations quickly. For instance, at this speed, the flight time from the U.S. to Europe would be reduced to just 1.5 hours.
The SR-72 program focuses on developing a fully reusable combined cycle supersonic turbine (TBCC) propulsion system. This propulsion system is a type of air-breathing jet engine that combines a turbine engine used in many modern tactical aircraft with a scramjet engine capable of reaching and sustaining speeds above Mach 5 (6,174 km/h), and even exceeding Mach 10 (12,348 km/h).
