Maverick’ Introduces Darkstar, a Menacing Supersonic Jet

As a result of inspiration from two existing designs, Lockheed Martin built a stealth aircraft.

A gorgeous 1973 Porsche 911 S wasn’t the only mechanical masterpiece in Top Gun: Maverick

The Darkstar is a stealth aircraft built in partnership with Lockheed Martin that Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) pilots as he carries out duties for the US Navy in the movie. It’s the stuff of aviation buffs’ dreams, and it might even become a reality soon.

A full-scale prototype was shown in the film based on the SR-71 Blackbird, which Lockheed built in the 1960s. As a long-range, high-altitude reconnaissance jet that could travel three times the speed of sound, it was used by both the United States Air Force (USAF) and NASA for undercover missions until it eventually retired in the late 1990s.‍

The SR-72, also known colloquially as the “Son of Blackbird,” is a hypersonic UAV concept designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Lockheed announced a successor to the Blackbird in 2013. It was also the inspiration for the winged weapon in the sequel to Top Gun.

Using sleek lines, the Darkstar has a menacing silhouette, just like the two Lockheed designs. The production team worked with the Lockheed crew to design the perfect plane for the screen. A realistic cockpit and all the right controls make you think you’re flying this thing.

“We learned how to make the plane look angry, mean, and insanely fast from their design team,” said the film’s production designer Jeremy Hindle.

Lockheed has previously stated that an SR-72 prototype could fly as early as 2025 and enter service in the 2030s. The aircraft will be equipped with a hypersonic propulsion system that can blast the jet from a standstill to Mach 6. That makes the Son of Blackbird about twice as fast as its mom. Oh, and it will be able to fire hypersonic missiles. Let’s hope Maverick is available to pilot this craft.