SR-72 is USA solution to the China problem. SR-72 is a hypersonic scramjet drone that will be able to carry hypersonic weapons. It will take off and land like a jet fighter and will reach Mach 6. The United States will likely start deploying this new weapon by 2030. Scramjet technology has taken decades to develop and only United States and Russia have mastered it (Russia has partnered with India to develop India’s BRAHMOS-ll scramjet). 3M22 Tsirkon is a mach 8 scramjet anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile currently in testing by Russia. China is not even capable of producing a decent fighter jet engine, let alone a scramjet (I am sure China will however, steal this technology soon).
3D printing, new materials and turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion system allowed USA to solve the cooling and design problems that have held back development till now. In November 2018, Lockheed Martin confirmed that a prototype of the SR-72 is scheduled to fly by 2025.
The United States has always had many “secret projects” going on at their Skunk Works facility. However, this project will be a game changer. The SR-72 will be able to “take-out” any target, including aircraft carriers, hardened bunkers or airfields. The big advantage of a Mach 6 capable drone is it can carry multiple hypersonic missiles, all the while weaving and bobbing, even turning back to strike the target again. With the ability to outrun any jet fighter or missile, will make this drone the most feared weapon on the battlefield.