Mach 6 SR-72 ‘Son of Blackbird’ Has a Clear Message for Russia or China

Mach 6 SR-72 ‘Son of Blackbird’ Has a Clear Message for Russia or China

Key Points and Summary – Skunk Works’ SR-72 concept chases the Blackbird’s core idea—speed as survival—with a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine to take off like a jet and cruise like a scramjet. Public milestones include early-2010s information reveal, follow-on NASA/AFRL studies of TBCC feasibility, and cultural nods like the Top Gun: Maverick “Darkstar” mockup. The goals: rapid ISR in denied airspace, time-sensitive strike options, an…