SR-91 Aurora

SR-91 "Aurora"
Role	Strategic Reconnaissance Aircraft
Manufacturer	Rubin Design Aerospace
First flight	2007
Status	Testing
Primary users	U.S. Air Force International Space Agency
Produced	2007 to present
Number built	7
Unit cost	$2.42 billion (approx.)
Developed from	SR-71 Blackbird North American X-15 XB-70 Valkyrie

The Rubin Design SR-91 is an advanced, high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed by Rubin Design Defense Systems for use by the United States Air Force. It provides day and night, high-altitude (120,000 feet ASL and above), all-weather surveillance. The aircraft is also being developed for future use in satellite calibration, and satellite data validation.

Operational history

Flight test program

SR-91 Aurora Performance
Longest Flight:
Fastest Speed:
Highest Altitude:
Highest Mach Number: Mach 9.05
Sustained Mach 9:
Mach 9 total:

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (1 pilot, 1 reconnaissance systems officer)
• Length: 35 m (115 ft)
• Wingspan: 20 m (65 ft)
• Height: 6 m (19 ft)
• Wing area: 300 m² (3,200 ft²)
• Empty weight: 29,480 kg (65,000 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 71,215 kg (157,000 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 157,000 lb (71,215 kg)
• Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney J58-1 afterburning turbojets, 32,500 lbf (267 kN est.) each
• High Speed Powerplant: 4× ramjets, scramjets or pulse detonation engines

Performance

• Maximum speed: unknown at sea level (Mach 10 at altitude)
• Range: 9,320 mi (15,000 km)
• Service ceiling: 40,000 m (131,000 ft)
• Thrust/weight: 0.70 est.

Fuel types

• JP-7 or JP-8
• Methane, LH₂ or hydrogen fuel cells.
• Possible use of liquid oxygen and hydrogen oxides.
• Possible use of MHD (Magnetohydrodynamics) technology.

Other equipment

• Cameras
• IR sensors
• Other advanced recon sensors