Well, about the time rumors of the Aurora came out, SR-71 was being retired, too expensive to maintain and unnessary. Nothing to replace it. Yeah, right. Skunk Works, those sneaky little Ba$t--d$. Heh, heh.
Its good to see the computer technology catching up to the design theories.
The next breakthru is computer controlled stall landing....like 2 magnets coming together...the aircraft will aproach and enter near stall....putting down in remarkably short distances.
The new designs with internal weapons bays will require one more shift...that being microed weapons,as limited space requires boosting energy yeilds for the few weapons to be carried.
The application of controlled atomics is on its way....military is working on a way to present this in view of the psychological factor.
Once they can prove that the radiation will dissapate and not remain to create lasting consequences...the shift away from TNT will have arrived.
We are fortunate that our [Geeks and Nerds]are the top shelf of the planet!
Switchblade..another concept that may appear soon