re: Lockheed with a skunkworks teaser video

LRASMs are down right scary. Stealthy cruise missiles don’t need speed. They are very hard to track and have AI to go after the link up with other LRASMs and plan on which missile attacks which ship.

We can’t build enough of them fast enough.

LRASM’s main weakness is range. Which is what the follow on program, HALO, was supposed to address.

We would prefer our standoff distance to be much longer than what LRASM requires.

I expect improved metallurgy and ceramics has allowed higher turbine speeds, and the turbine and ramjet are separated but use common inlet and exhaust as before. So this would be a next generation of the combined cycle architecture that started with the J58. Dealing with increased friction heat will probably be solved by extensive use of composites, and not going hypersonic below 100,000 feet to avoid higher air density. Improved imaging technology will still allow better resolution even at higher altitudes, and digital capture requires less space and more efficient packaging. Partial lifting body design will allow fuel capacity necessary to guarantee long range, and "MPG" will be better given the speed potential. I'd be surprised if engine nacelles are below the body, but interception is less of an issue at Mach 6, so radar cross is less important. But stealth plus speed would be a game changer.

so basically - what Mavrick flew in the 1st movie. which i thought looked amazing

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Just another subsonic drone.

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"Skunk Works" by Ben Rich is an excellent read.