The SR-71 has been sent into retirement. Nobody wants to know what has secretly replaced him?

I present to you the SR-73 Peregrine Falcon, which takes its name from the fastest bird on our planet, timed at over 330 kph but which is supposed to exceed 380. Derived from the SR-71 redesigned from scratch to create a aircraft that can enter enemy territory, do the assigned mission and return without being detected and even less shot down. Like its name in the animal kingdom, this jewel is incredibly fast too. Without Afterburners it is already fast, but when you turn these on the plane becomes the fastest ever built without rocket propulsion.

It is faster than the missiles that are launched at it to intercept it. There is no need for evasive maneuvers or wasting flares and chaffs. Simply push the throttle lever all the way down to instantly stop any enemy action by magic. The plane is still equipped with countermeasures in case it serves not to accelerate and stay on target, but this is the only case in which you will actually feel the need for them.

The plane is not equipped with air-air defense means. They simply don't serve. He is a last generation stealth (the weapons are all contained in retractable bays) and is still faster than anything flying around him.

The SR-73 is a photographic scout with the possibility of a high paying load as a bomber.

In the proposed version it is equipped with a cruise missile in bay 3, two surface air missiles in bay 2 and 4 bombs in bay 1. However, it can be set up in different configurations. The plane flies very well even with heavy loads, and you can replace the armaments given with other combinations. It is not recommended to hang external loads to avoid compromising the stealth characteristics of the project.

The expected service life of the SR-73 is at least 40 years. The cost of each specimen is not declared. The maximum altitude that can be reached, thanks to the special engines and the presence of control jets, is even greater than that of the U-2, and unconfirmed reports give it for about 90,000 feet. The maximum speed is not declared, but some experts venture forecasts between mach 4.5 and mach 5

AG1 = Bay 1
AG2 = Bay 2
AG3 = Bay 3
AG4 = Navigation lights
AG6 = Parabrakes
AG7 = High agility mode (for low speeds)
AG8 = Afterburners

B = Brakes
TRIM = TRIM

COMBAT NOTES:

Given the very high speed it is very difficult to release the weapons using it 100%. As the weapons acquire their targets, the plane leaves them behind. It is therefore advisable to lower the speed, get closer taking advantage of the stealth characteristics, hit the targets and then move away accelerating to the maximum.