Replacement for the SR71

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Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 53

Has anybody heard anything further regarding the alledged replacement for the SR71 Blackbird? The last that I heard was that reports had been made by people along the California coast that an aircraft or object had been observed travelling parallel with the coast at very high speed leaving small doughnut shapes along its contrail. When the times of reports were checked it seemed to indicate that the observed object was travelling at around 5000 mph. Or have all of these reports been rubbish? :confused:

Original post

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,202

You mean the SR-71 Blackbird - I guess.

Well there is no offical replacement. The Blackbirds role has been taken over by satelittes and UAVs, as far as the offical statements are concerned. However there have been many rumors about new US built stelath recon planes. Reaching from the SR-3 to the Mach 5+ projects.

Member for

21 years

Posts: 443

Hi Foxmouth,

I find 72 a pretty cool number too, but the Lockheed machine was the SR-71.

I would take reports of what a couple of people in California saw from the beach with a grain of salt.
Did you see the movie "The big Lebowki"? I bet some guys like "the dude" saw the lights and some guys like "Walter" did the calculations. :)

Cheers, Transall.

Member for

19 years 9 months

Posts: 12,109


Did you see the movie "The big Lebowki"? I bet some guys like "the dude" saw the lights and some guys like "Walter" did the calculations.

Cheers, Transall.

funny movie..heck i'ma get myself some white russia...

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 53

Yes, I guess your right, the Americans do appear to see a lot of strange things in the sky. Have you noticed in recent years how the number of UFO reports have dwindled to almost nil? I think some of these so-called sightings of this fast moving object followed the publishing of articles about a kind of pulse rocket motor that was (theoretically) capable of propelling an aircraft at speeds up to mach 7. :rolleyes:

Member for

19 years 3 months

Posts: 284

Hi foxmoth,you a Cornish man?Anyway,it must be remembered,that whatever the current level of mainstream technology,military X-planes are always decades ahead.Look at the SR71 technology,then compare it to the technology of the period it was developed from the A-12 Avenger (1960's).
The SR71 was far ahead of its time.
And,if NASA can recently set a new speed record with a jet (publicly),just imagine what Groom Lake & the military X-planes have been capable of doing all these years!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 12,009

Look at the SR71 technology,then compare it to the technology of the period it was developed from the A-12 Avenger (1960's).

If you're referring to Lockheed's A-12, it was OXCART. The A-12 Avenger II was a dorito-shaped USN stealth project in the 80's and 90's.

Anyway, as far as a replacement for the SR-71A goes, what better place for it than the black world? Remember that the SR-71A was retired because it was hella-expensive to operate. Putting a replacement in the black world would mean operating expenses aren't a concern. It'd still most likely be a USAF operation. As they'd provide air refuelling and probably logistical support, you'd be able to keep it "all in the family" and not have to worry about compartmentalizing an operation spanning more than one organization.

Personally, the idea of a new recce aircraft makes sense. Satellites won't offer 24-hour coverage unless you drop one in geostationary orbit, but then you're loosing coverage from somewhere else. UAVs are a good idea but you'd need a pretty big one to carry a serious strategic reconnaissance payload. Plus, with an aircraft, there's no control signal for the enemy to screw with. My best guess is that somewhere there's a black recon jet flying over certain hotspots. Whether it's a hypersonic cruiser or a subsonic stealth aircraft, I have no idea.

And people need to stop calling the mythical hypersonic recon jet "stealth". There is absolutely no way to hide an IR signature that overwhelmingly massive. Hell, even at Mach 3, one of the biggest contributors tp the SR-71s RCS was the afterburner plume.

A final note: AURORA is a name that has nothing to do with black aircraft. At least anymore. It was a code word used for a Lockheed ATB study, Northrop eventually winning the contract and making the B-2. People still use the word to reference a secret black aircraft, but if the "SR-72" is officially acknowledged, don't expect it to be called "Aurora".

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20 years 9 months

Posts: 136

I think they call it Satellite.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 12,009

Ah, but satellites are extremely expensive (especially when you figure in launching, and potential refitting/refueling), they tend to be specialized, and they are more limtied in terms of coverage ability. What I mean by that is that a satellite may be able to offer great information, but I doubt even the US has the capability to provide continuous real-time worldwide coverage. Also, to change a satellite's orbit, you have to have a VERY good reason. They can't carry enough fuel to move around a lot, and until the STS gets back up and running there won't be anything available to bring them back for refueling.

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 339

you could also argue that the B-2 can take over the SR-71's spyplane role, making up for the SR's speed and altitude capabilities with stealth and range. (the SR-71, though incorporating stealth features, was anything but stealthy when trailing an afterburner plume at Mach 3).

give the B-2 an AESA with a good SAR mode, SLAR, some cameras and enhanced SIGINT equipment, and there you are!

interestingly, B-2 service entry coincided with the SR-71's retirement....

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24 years 2 months

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The problem with that is the small number of B-2s in the inventory. Taksing 20 aircraft with three demanding missions would be very, very hard.

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 39

I believe "Aurora" if it exists utilises PDWE or pulse detonation wave engines. They work a little like exploding fuel in a tube with one end opened, the other closed. Apparently fuel is released in the tube, exploding out the back like a rocket. To get new airflow, the engine pauses a few milliseconds to let air re-enter the tube, the process then repeating. Supposedly responsible for donut contrails observed in mid 90s over the U.S.

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 39

Forgot to add the SR 71 replacement may already exist as THAPP, reportedly this Northrop spanloader escorted F117s during Desert Storm providing BDA. Supposedly looks a little like the Horten flying wing, GD Cheeky Pete ATF proposal (led to A12). If true it would appear that all aspect stealth has resulted in a new operational regime for aerial reconnaisance; slow high altitude surveillance reliant on stealth rather than extreme speed, first generation stealth.

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 339

Forgot to add the SR 71 replacement may already exist as THAPP, reportedly this Northrop spanloader escorted F117s during Desert Storm providing BDA. Supposedly looks a little like the Horten flying wing, GD Cheeky Pete ATF proposal (led to A12). If true it would appear that all aspect stealth has resulted in a new operational regime for aerial reconnaisance; slow high altitude surveillance reliant on stealth rather than extreme speed, first generation stealth.

TR-3?

the spyplane B-2 would follow the same concept. although as SOC points out the small fleet would be kept very busy.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 12,009

TR-3 is believed to be a simple mispronunciation of "Tier-3", a Lockheed UAV concept. Dark Star was Tier-III Minus. The triangular spy plane rumored to have operated with the -117's in Desert Storm is now believed to have been a Northrop product, not one of Lockheed.

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 53

Strewth, all I asked was a simple question about the SR 71 and all you brainy folks come in with your wealth of technical knowledge and expertize. It makes me feel so inadequate.
PilotDKH, am I a Cornishman? Wash your mouth out with soap and water. Look at the flag, it's the new official Devonshire flag! :mad:

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 39

I think your right SOC, TR 3 might very well be Tier 3.

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19 years 8 months

Posts: 160

Although not strictly part of this thread, there have been reports of a 100ft long low level supersonic aircraft that was seen late last year in the desert test range complex of Nevada. Triagle shaped, wasn't using afterburners but was conventionally powered. The low light levels made it difficult to see much but eyewitnesses say it resembled the F-117 but much larger, and much faster.

Member for

19 years 3 months

Posts: 284

Foxmoth,since when is that the Devon flag? That appears on my screen as as a black flag with a white cross! Is that what you intended? The St Pirran flag.National flag of Cornwall.Quite a few Cornish people here quite annoyed at your hijacking of the flag!

Member for

19 years 3 months

Posts: 284

No SOC,I wasn't refering to that A12.I meant the A12 of the 1960's,from which the SR71 was later developed.It was designed to carry a small black UAV on top,for reconaissance,the A12 being the mothership to carry it.