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USAF Developing New "SR-72" Supersonic Spy?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the next-comes-high-altitude-flak-cannons dept.

Kadin2048 writes "According to an Air Force Times article, the famed Lockheed Martin 'Skunk Works' may be hard at work on a new supersonic spy plane (with 'artist concept') for the U.S. military, to replace the SR-71 'Blackbird' retired a decade ago. Dubbed by some the SR-72, the jet would be unmanned and travel at about 4,000 MPH at as much as 100,000 feet, with 'transcontinental' range. Some have speculated that new high-speed spy planes could be a U.S. response to anti-satellite weapons deployed by China, in order to preserve reconnaissance capabilities in the event of a loss of satellite coverage. Neither the Air Force nor Lockheed Martin would comment on the program, or lack thereof."

8 of 428 comments (clear)

  1. Already got one of these by Skreech · · Score: 4, Funny

    I already have an SR-72.

    http://www.apogeerockets.com/SR72_Darkbird_Kit.asp

    It doesn't go 4,000mph, though. It just sits there. I think I was ripped off.

  2. Re:Particle beam weapon by MrNaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's also vulnerable to psionic telekinetic mutants who could pull the thing to Earth and then disassemble it with their minds.

    --
    I hate printers.
  3. Re:Particle beam weapon by Kagura · · Score: 3, Funny

    I hope you get modded up to at least Insightful +3.

  4. Re:fsdf 53tgvzxcreahb fg agasgdgu nbcxfharefdawsgg by CommunistHamster · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gentlemen, this may be the very first sighting of this new spyplane on Slashdot. Observe the shape made by the bold text under a resolution of 640*480 @ 60Hz.

  5. remember kids... by Thaelon · · Score: 3, Funny

    If the headline ends in a question mark, it's not news.

    --

    Question everything

  6. Classified by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 4, Funny
    FTFA:

    "As a matter of policy, we don't talk about classified programs -- whether or not they exist," Lockheed's Tom Jurkowsky said. If the program doesn't exist, how can it be classified? Or has the military classified everything that doesn't exist?

    I'm confused.
  7. Re:Particle beam weapon by ffoiii · · Score: 5, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our new psionic telekinetic mutant overlords.

  8. Re:Obligatory linguistic correction by CaseyB · · Score: 5, Funny

    Guess that makes me a German Nazi...

    You just Godwinned yourself. I've never seen that before.