Skunk Works Reveals Proposed SR-71 Successor: the Hypersonic SR-72 216
cold fjord writes "Aviation Week reports, 'Ever since Lockheed's unsurpassed SR-71 Blackbird was retired ... almost two decades ago, the perennial question has been: Will it ever be succeeded by a new-generation, higher-speed aircraft and, if so, when? That is, until now. After years of silence on the subject, Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has revealed exclusively to AW&ST details of long-running plans for what it describes as an affordable hypersonic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike platform that could enter development in demonstrator form as soon as 2018. Dubbed the SR-72, the twin-engine aircraft is designed for a Mach 6 cruise, around twice the speed of its forebear, and will have the optional capability to strike targets. Guided by the U.S. Air Force's long-term hypersonic road map, the SR-72 is designed to fill what are perceived by defense planners as growing gaps in coverage of fast-reaction intelligence by the plethora of satellites, subsonic manned and unmanned platforms meant to replace the SR-71.'"
Finally (Score:5, Funny)
I was feeling naked with all this NSA spying and no air surveillance.
I'm glad things are back and track and I can be monitored in my backyard and abroad, for my safety.
Thanks for looking out for me, big brother!
The X-Men ... (Score:4, Funny)
... can finally replace their old beater with something a little more hip and modern. Party at the mansion!
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http://marvel.wikia.com/X-Men_Blackbird [wikia.com]
Mo money, mo money (Score:5, Funny)
A defense contractor, a tea partier, and a teacher sit down to a plate of 10 cookies. The defense contractor takes 9, leans over to the tea partier, and says "psst, the teacher is trying to steal your cookie"
Re:Mo money, mo money (Score:3, Funny)
incompitence
oh, the ironing is delicious!