Classified open source programs

[Signal Witch]

And all this has been going on for decades as well.Follow the bread crumbs from not just the Sr71 but the Vigilante, Valkyrie, Concord,Space Shuttle,X15...

You can see the trail plain as day if you look back at those programs. Each one passed something down that’s still showing up today under different names. The heat management angle makes a lot of sense too. Using the fuel itself to cool the skin before it hits the engine is genius. And with 3D printing, they can build those channels right into the structure.

[Blackfingers]

 The heat management angle makes a lot of sense too. Using the fuel itself to cool the skin before it hits the engine is genius

Not fuel but Supermarines seaplane racers built in 1930,s used channels in the skins for coolant.Nothing is new just the materials.
Supermarine S6A at Southampton

[Zaphod58]

This is interesting. The timeline matches the Raider development, but they go to great lengths to not say B-21 or LRS-B.

[Blackfingers]

This is interesting. The timeline matches the Raider development, but they go to great lengths to not say B-21 or LRS-B.

[Image: https://denyignorance.com/uploader/images/IMG_0915.jpeg]

Probably goes back a longer way than that as well.

[Zaphod58]

The Northrop Lotus is now Project Talon. They wanted to prove that they could build faster, and cheaper than their CCA Increment 1 offering. Talon took 15 months from design to weight on wheels, and will fly in an estimated 9 months. It will not be offered for future CCA increments, but Northrop says there is multi-service and international interest. 

[Zaphod58]

Video of Talon out in the open.

https://x.com/mergenewsletter/status/199...FeaE6XZSwQ

[Blackfingers]

Looks like a Cruise Missile with longer wings :)

[Zaphod58]

Speaking of Ghost Bat, they successfully made their first missile shot during testing.

[Zaphod58]

Project Talon has officially been designated the YFQ-48A by the Air Force.