No Fighter Jet Can Beat US New Darkstar : SR-72

 American engineers have managed to create an aircraft that surpasses even sixth-generation fighters! It is designed to utilize the most advanced technologies to establish total air dominance. According to witnesses, it’s so fast that it literally blows roofs off houses with its shockwave as it flies overhead! Imagine this kind of monster flying above you. Although... you wouldn't even have time to react because it reaches speeds of 2 miles per second! Furthermore, according to certain classified data, it’s even armed with the most powerful laser in existence!

This aircraft combines the best features of all existing planes and turned out so impressive that it was even featured in a movie! That’s right, we’re talking about the “Darkstar”. You may have thought it was fictional, but today we’re going to show you that this is a real plane and shed some light on its actual capabilities.

Photo Credit - Pexels

The story of Darkstar’s development intricately links two seemingly incompatible industries - Film and Military. You see, during production of the movie "Top Gun," Paramount Pictures approached Lockheed Martin with a request to design a plane that would make the protagonist, Mitchell, the fastest person in history. Amazingly, the company had already been working on such a concept for quite some time! To be more precise, the aircraft was developed by Skunk Works, a division of Lockheed. To give you an idea of Skunk Works' capabilities, they are the masterminds behind other famous aircraft like the F-22 and F-35!

The actual name of the Darkstar is the SR-72, and it is the world's first aircraft capable of reaching a speed of 7,500 miles per hour! It can fly from Washington to Beijing in less than an hour, and it doesn't even have to evade air defense systems because there is no missile that can catch it. These impressive capabilities are made possible by the use of a variable cycle engine, which can operate as both a turbojet and a rocket engine. It allows for seamless transition between different flight modes without a loss of thrust.

Engineers have gone to great lengths to equip such a fast aircraft with stealth technologies to reduce its visibility. It is also known that the SR-72 Darkstar can climb to an altitude of over 15 miles and out-maneuver all existing fighter aircraft. As for weaponry, bombs and conventional missiles aren’t suitable for an aircraft like this, since it could collide with them after launching. To avoid such deadly accidents, lasers were chosen as the Darkstar’s weapon.

The aircraft is currently equipped with an enhanced version of the LAWS, which has a power output of 350 kW, capable of cutting through 5 inches of metal with its beam! However, the main advantage of using laser weapons lies in their ability to be integrated within the aircraft's structure and deployed when necessary, thus ensuring the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft to achieve hypersonic speeds.

In all fairness, it should be noted that Lockheed Martin has previously stated that the SR-72 is still under development, and that we wouldn’t be seeing it anytime soon. However, the fact that this particular aircraft was featured in a movie might not be a coincidence. Maybe it was a clever plan to secretly reveal their new weapon to their adversaries? If that's the case, the plan worked, because the Darkstar was so realistic that China even sent a satellite to capture images of the aircraft, believing it to be a new secret U.S. project. Lockheed Martin themselves even created an official webpage where they shared information about the Darkstar and its history.

Here's what the developers said: "We thrive on tackling seemingly impossible work, developing technologies for tomorrow’s challenges before the need is even identified. From creating radar-evading stealth capabilities, to X-planes that redefine the sonic boom, to many revolutionary technologies in between, Skunk Works has a long tradition of quickly developing enduring innovation for when it’s needed most.” That last part is clearly referring to the SR-72, because during this time of heightened tension between the U.S. and China, such an aircraft would have the potential to reshape events and ease the conflict.

There has also been a suspicious lack of news from the U.S. regarding aviation developments for quite some time. So, could the Darkstar be real? Hypersonic aircraft have long been a major priority for the U.S. armed forces. The SR-71 Blackbird, which was developed by the same company, held the title of the fastest fighter aircraft ever constructed. The main advantages of this aircraft lie in its high-speed capabilities and excellent maneuverability. These features allow the aircraft to rapidly gain altitude and evade enemy missiles.

The SR-71 model was developed back in 1964 and quickly gained the admiration and respect of pilots of that era thanks to its remarkable characteristics. What set it apart was its futuristic body design that enabled exceptional aerodynamic performance regardless of the flight mode. Its exterior had been intricately crafted with complex sectional profiles. The aircraft also featured a tailless configuration – a cutting-edge innovation at the time.

However, despite its uniqueness, the SR-71 faced several notable challenges. Pilots had trouble breathing properly at an altitude of 8 miles with standard oxygen masks, which could lead to loss of consciousness or impair vital functions. What’s more, when reaching speeds in excess of 2,100 miles per hour, the front section would heat up to temperatures of 750°F, while the average temperature of the entire fighter reached 500°F. Nonetheless, the aircraft was able to garner tremendous popularity among American pilots, and since its retirement in 1998, the military has eagerly awaited a worthy successor.

Intrguing parallels can be drawn to the design of the hypersonic aircraft showcased in Top Gun, which closely resembles the SR-72 and is intended to be its successor. According to the developers, the new aircraft is designed to serve as both a reconnaissance and strike aircraft. Its remarkable speed combined with advanced laser weaponry will allow it to overcome any opponent on a level playing field. The versatile aircraft is being engineered to achieve such high speeds that enemies will have no time to react or hide. Lockheed believes that the SR-72 will redefine the concept of air power by providing substantial tactical and strategic advantages to the United States. It is expected to revolutionize the country's ability to respond to and deter potential conflicts.

Another intriguing feature of the Darkstar - one inspired by real aircraft - is its cockpit design that is invisible when viewed head-on, similar to the X-59 that is being developed by the Skunk Works division. In “Top Gun: Maverick”, the aircraft uses synthetic vision systems to see what lies directly ahead.

Additionally, Lockheed Martin’s illustration of the Darkstar on their website shows a port on the upper part of the fuselage which is typically used for astronomical navigation systems. This design element is affectionately referred to as “R2D2” in reference to the renowned droid from the Star Wars universe.

If there were any doubts about Darkstar’s authenticity, consider why a mere movie concept would be developed with the same level of secrecy as a real project. Plus, the aircraft prominently displays the logos of Skunk Works and Lockheed Martin on its tail section, highlighting their direct involvement.

However, it’s worth mentioning that there are certain discrepancies between the actual SR-72 and the fictional aircraft depicted in the movie - particularly when it comes to speed. While the real aircraft is expected to reach approximately Mach 8, the fictional counterpart is able to hit Mach 10. Obviously, certain characteristics were exaggerated for cinematic purposes. The Blackbird’s real successor is also