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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."

1 of 428 comments (clear)

  1. by the looks of it... by ccbutler · · Score: 0, Redundant

    by the looks of it, there is no way it would be launched from a conventional runway