Bevo,
Thanks for posting the link - updates and corrects my fading recollections. Yes, the transparency shock wave and the way it interacts with the canopy structure are critical to survival of the whole structure.
It's a tough challenge to meet, and many aircraft have experienced real problems in meeting it. As some of do our best to drive home, advanced aircraft programmes are invariably tough and full of risk. They don't often go to plan, not because people are dim, but because the teams are working to do really hard stuff.
Best Regards as ever
Engines