The SR-72 Spy Plane Will Be Faster Than You Can Ever Imagine

[tn1911]

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/sr-72-spy-plane-will-be-faster-you-can-ever-imagine-114971

A hypersonic SR-72 would almost certainly be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)—in other words, a drone normally receiving a “Q” designation. To what extent it would rely on man-in-the-loop (which might be susceptible to disruption) or pre-programmed control versus its own autonomous algorithms, remains an interesting question.

Furthermore, while an SR-72 would have an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) role, it would also surely be intended to strike targets with little advancing warning—in other words, it would be a bomber. Traveling around 4,000 miles per hour, a hypersonic bomber could theoretically depart from a base in the continental U.S. to hit targets across the Pacific or Atlantic in just 90 minutes. Unlike the various hypersonic missiles under development, it could then return to base and load up for further sorties.

Weiss stated from the beginning the SR-72 “had strike-capability in mind.” The SR-72 project, in fact, is reportedly an outgrowth of the rocket-powered Falcon HTV-3 hypersonic test-bed, which was associated with America’s Prompt Global Strike program.

[Diamondback]

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/sr-72-spy-plane-will-be-faster-you-can-ever-imagine-114971

A hypersonic SR-72 would almost certainly be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)—in other words, a drone normally receiving a “Q” designation. To what extent it would rely on man-in-the-loop (which might be susceptible to disruption) or pre-programmed control versus its own autonomous algorithms, remains an interesting question.

Furthermore, while an SR-72 would have an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) role, it would also surely be intended to strike targets with little advancing warning—in other words, it would be a bomber. Traveling around 4,000 miles per hour, a hypersonic bomber could theoretically depart from a base in the continental U.S. to hit targets across the Pacific or Atlantic in just 90 minutes. Unlike the various hypersonic missiles under development, it could then return to base and load up for further sorties.

Weiss stated from the beginning the SR-72 “had strike-capability in mind.” The SR-72 project, in fact, is reportedly an outgrowth of the rocket-powered Falcon HTV-3 hypersonic test-bed, which was associated with America’s Prompt Global Strike program.

Trivial aside, the SR-71 was originally designed with a strike capability, but never implemented beyond three prototype F-12 interceptors. When MacNamara and LBJ, piss be upon them, scuttled that development the radar and AIM-47 missiles were adapted to become the AWG-9/AIM-54 Phoenix that gave the F-14 Tomcat its teeth.

[Coal Dragger]

At those speeds and altitudes you could drop payload a long long way out and have the bird un-assing the area long before it gets into SAM range.

[Diamondback]

At those speeds and altitudes you could drop payload a long long way out and have the bird un-assing the area long before it gets into SAM range.

I think I've posted before mentioning that Kelly Johnson envisioned a Blackbird "bomb" being a ballistically shaped one-ton hunk of tool steel that, when dropped from 100,000 feet at Mach 3 and change, would deliver the kinetic energy on impact of a small meteorite.

Combine that with modern "glide bomb" technology like used on the GBU-39 SDB that allows a 40-mile glide from a 40,000-foot drop height with precision guidance, and you'd be talking some seriously Next Level Shit.

[Stickman]

I think I've posted before mentioning that Kelly Johnson envisioned a Blackbird "bomb" being a ballistically shaped one-ton hunk of tool steel that, when dropped from 100,000 feet at Mach 3 and change, would deliver the kinetic energy on impact of a small meteorite.

Combine that with modern "glide bomb" technology like used on the GBU-39 SDB that allows a 40-mile glide from a 40,000-foot drop height with precision guidance, and you'd be talking some seriously Next Level Shit.

Nothing wrong with concrete bombs dropped with speed and altitude. Its a show stopper.

[mack7.62]

Don't forget the A-12 also was to carry the D-21 drone.

[Diamondback]

Nothing wrong with concrete bombs dropped with speed and altitude. Its a show stopper.

Yup... according to a prof who used to fly F-106's, concrete-blivet training rounds with PGM kits were the tool of choice in cases like Bosnia where the Serbs would park their tanks on "Must Not Hit" sites like schools, hospitals etc.

D-21 could have been easily turned into a cruise missile, except that Kelly spiked the program after a bad launch killed one of his best test-crew members and destroyed the second M-21 in the collision.