Last updated: February 18, 2026
✈️ Aircraft Specifications
| Designation | SR-72 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Skunk Works |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| First Flight | 2025 |
| Length | 30.0 m (98.4 ft) |
| Max Speed (Mach) | 6.0 |
| Max Speed (km/h) | 7,400 km/h |
| Service Ceiling | 30,000 m (98,430 ft) |
| Engine | TBCC (Turbine-Based Combined Cycle) + Scramjet |
| Status | Concept |
Overview
The SR-72, dubbed the ‘Son of Blackbird,’ is Lockheed Martin’s planned hypersonic successor to the legendary SR-71. Designed to fly at Mach 6—twice as fast as the Blackbird—it would combine intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) with strike capability, something the SR-71 never had.
Design & Development
The SR-72 will use a revolutionary combined cycle propulsion system: a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine that seamlessly transitions from turbine mode (takeoff to ~Mach 3) to scramjet mode (Mach 3 to Mach 6+). Lockheed Martin has been developing this dual-mode engine with Aerojet Rocketdyne since the early 2010s. A flight research vehicle (FRV) demonstrator was reportedly under construction as of 2023.
Expected Capabilities
- Speed: Mach 6 (7,400+ km/h)
- ISR + strike capability in a single platform
- Optionally manned or fully autonomous
- Could reach any point on Earth within 1-2 hours
- Virtually impossible to intercept at Mach 6
Status
Lockheed Martin confirmed in 2013 that the SR-72 was in development. A scaled demonstrator was expected to fly by the mid-2020s, with a full-scale operational aircraft potentially entering service in the 2030s. Much of the program remains classified.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast will the SR-72 be?
The SR-72 is designed for Mach 6.0 (4,567 mph) using combined-cycle turbine/scramjet propulsion.
How will the SR-72 reach Mach 6?
A combined-cycle engine transitions from turbine mode (takeoff to Mach 3) to scramjet mode (Mach 3 to Mach 6), eliminating rocket boosters.
Has the SR-72 been built?
No full-scale SR-72 yet. A scaled demonstrator may have flown. Full aircraft expected late 2020s-2030s.
Will the SR-72 be manned or unmanned?
It is expected to be unmanned or optionally manned, serving as an ISR and strike platform.
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