Photo credit: The Aviationist
Lockheed Martin’s classified SR-72 project leverages technology from the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 to help it fly at speeds exceeding Mach 6. It’s set to have a strike mission, and reported plans call for a “Flight Research Vehicle” to be built in the early 2020s. Best of all, the pilots who get to fly this plane will not be required to wear the bulky suits that SR-72 Blackbird pilots wore since the initial plans call for the SR-72 to be a drone. Read more for another video and additional information.
“Lockheed announced it was developing the SR-72 in 2013, and that the “Son of Blackbird” would hit Mach 6 — over 4,500 mph — and possibly be operational by 2030. Last year, reports emerged that Lockheed might test an ‘optionally piloted’ flight research vehicle in 2018, and an actual test flight in 2020,” reports Business Insider.
