Editing Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (section)

===Successor===
{{update section|date=April 2024}}
{{Main|Lockheed Martin SR-72}}
Speculation existed regarding a replacement for the SR-71, including a rumored aircraft codenamed [[Aurora (aircraft)|Aurora]]. The limitations of [[reconnaissance satellite]]s, which take up to 24 hours to arrive in the proper orbit to photograph a particular target, make them slower to respond to demand than reconnaissance planes. The fly-over orbit of spy satellites may also be predicted and can allow assets to be hidden when the satellite passes, a drawback not shared by aircraft. Thus, there are doubts that the US has abandoned the concept of spy planes to complement reconnaissance satellites.<ref>Siuru, William D. and John D. Busick. ''Future Flight: The Next Generation of Aircraft Technology''. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: TAB Books, 1994. {{ISBN|0-8306-7415-2}}.</ref> [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]s (UAVs) are also used for aerial reconnaissance in the 21st century, being able to overfly hostile territory without putting human pilots at risk, as well as being smaller and harder to detect than manned aircraft.

On 1 November 2013, media outlets reported that Skunk Works has been working on an unmanned reconnaissance airplane it has named [[Lockheed Martin SR-72|SR-72]], which would fly twice as fast as the SR-71, at Mach 6.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviationweek.com/awin-featured-story/exclusive-skunk-works-reveals-sr-71-successor-plan |title=Exclusive: Skunk Works Reveals SR-71 Successor Plan |last1=Norris |first1=Guy |date=1 November 2013 |work=Aviation Week |publisher=Penton |access-date=1 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811145707/http://aviationweek.com/awin-featured-story/exclusive-skunk-works-reveals-sr-71-successor-plan |archive-date=11 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-skunk-works-reveals-mach-6.0-sr-72-concept-392481/ |title=Skunk Works reveals Mach 6.0 SR-72 concept |last1=Trimble |first1=Stephen |date=1 November 2013 |website=Flightglobal.com |publisher=Reed Business Information |access-date=1 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121021903/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-skunk-works-reveals-mach-6.0-sr-72-concept-392481/ |archive-date=21 January 2014 }}</ref> However, the USAF is officially pursuing the [[Northrop Grumman RQ-180]] UAV to assume the SR-71's strategic ISR role.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aviationweek.com/defense/secret-new-uas-shows-stealth-efficiency-advances |title=EXCLUSIVE: Secret New UAS Shows Stealth, Efficiency Advances |last1=Butler |first1=Amy |last2=Sweetman |first2=Bill |date=6 December 2013 |work= Aviation Week |publisher=Penton |access-date=6 December 2013}}</ref>