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	Unknown
Developed from	SR-71 Blackbird North American X-15 XB-70 Valkyrie

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: (Low Speed) 4× afterburning turbofans, (unknown thrust) each, 267 kN est. thrust ((High Speed) 4× scramjets or pulse detonation engines) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: unknown at sea level (Mach 6 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, MCH, 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