US Air Force (USAF) has published videos to inform its followers about works carried out to gather intelligence. The video included the SR-72 aircraft and the RQ-180 drone, confirming rumours and answering the question, “Does the SR-71 Blackbird have a replacement?”
Earlier this month, USAF released a video showing a digital rendering of a hypersonic jet, informally known as the SR-72 or “son of the Blackbird” and RQ-180.
The official names are yet unknown. However, it is believed that the air force is aware of the names that have surfaced due to gossip. The “Heritage Today — ISR and Innovation” video shows contemporary Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) programmes. It consists of the RQ-4 Global Hawk, the U-2, and other platforms. The film mentions “bats” since the RQ-180 is known as the “Great White Bat.”
However, some dispute that the video depicts a similar airship. A shadowy picture of a sleek and stealthy aircraft in a hanger is also shown in the film. It is similar to the SR-72.
The SR-72 is a Mach 6 unmanned hypersonic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and attack platform. Its first flight is expected for 2025.
