Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group, has said the Defense Department might use supersonic transport aircraft to immediately bring search-and-rescue teams and senior officials to the battlefield to carry out missions, Defense One reported Tuesday.
“Very few people realize that hostage rescue and other high-value assets need to be deployed at the same speed we all travel on Southwest,â€Â he said.
The report said NASA, Boom Supersonics and Aerion Supersonic have led teams to develop and introduce new supersonic passenger jets by mid-2020s.
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works business also takes part in the effort as part of those teams, according to the report.