US firm teases potential successor to SR-71 Blackbird in new video

GE Aerospace has released a teaser video hinting at the development of a potential hypersonic successor to the iconic SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft. The video showcases a conceptual rendering of a hypersonic jet powered by GE’s dual-mode ramjet (DMRJ) engines, which were first demonstrated in 2024. These engines utilize rotating detonation combustion (RDC) technology, enhancing fuel efficiency and thrust by harnessing detonation waves in an annular chamber. GE claims its DMRJ engine can achieve speeds exceeding Mach 10, significantly surpassing the SR-71’s top speed of Mach 3.2, suggesting a major leap in hypersonic aviation capabilities. The SR-71 Blackbird, operational from 1966 to 1990, was renowned for its high-altitude, high-speed reconnaissance missions, but modern threats like hypersonic missiles traveling above Mach 5 require next-generation aircraft. While Lockheed Martin is already developing the SR-72, an unm