It&#x27;s interesting to note though that although Ben Rich explains that they decided they wouldn&#x27;t bid, Lockheed WERE one of the airframe contractors in Phase 2 and it&#x27;s difficult to imagine that the Skunk Works weren&#x27;t a part of that effort especially given the work they did towards the scramjet powered X-24c in the seventies.<p>Also, they went on to the X-33 in the mid 90&#x27;s so clearly felt confident in a suitable &quot;something stronger&quot; thermal protection system by then