In a step that could bolster the U.S.’s hypersonic weapons push, the Pentagon on Monday confirmed the second successful test of a reusable hypersonic vehicle in March, just three months after the first trial.
The test marked the country’s first return to reusable hypersonic flight testing since the end of the manned X-15 program in 1968.
The revelation comes just days after the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced it had successfully demonstrated an end-to-end hypersonic flight test using a sea-based cold-gas launch system from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on April 25.
Milestone tests
The Stratolaunch Talon-A hypersonic vehicle was launched mid-air from the Roc carrier aircraft, flew over the Pacific Ocean, and exceeded speeds of Mach 5 before safely landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
These significant evaluations were carried out as part of the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) program managed by the Test Resource Management Center’s (TRMC).
Stratolaunch, an aerospace company based in California, created the Talon-A testing spacecraft. The initial successful mission took place in December 2024 but remained undisclosed to the public until recently. Serving as the launch carrier for the Talon-A hypersonic craft was Roc, which holds the title of being the biggest airplane globally with dual fuselages.
"Showing the capability of using completely reusable hypersonic test vehicles marks a significant step forward for MACH-TB. The insights gained from this testing phase will assist us in decreasing the vehicle refurbishment period from several months to just weeks," stated George Rumford, who leads the TRMC.
Reusable design saves costs
In contrast to typical one-time use rockets, these reusable vehicles can be rapidly reused for less money, which speeds up the creation of advanced weaponry capable of traveling multiple times faster than the speed of sound. This reduces opponents' reaction time and circumvents standard protective measures.
MACH-TB is designed to speed up the development and deployment of cutting-edge hypersonic technologies by facilitating quicker advancements. Department of Defense (Dod) along with other federal agencies, industries, and academic institutions to carry out cost-effective and speedy hypersonic experiments and component testing of systems.
The NSWC Crane granted the MACH-TB contract to Leidos on behalf of the TRMC. Subsequently, acting as the primary contractor, Leidos initiated a competitive agreement with Stratolaunch to supply flight testing services for the project.
With the information gathered during this second test flight, we can implement insights gained to improve the durability and efficiency of the Talon-A vehicles," stated Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch. "Although the team still has to finalize their analysis of the second flight’s data, initial reviews verified the resilience of the Talon-A design and showcased its capability to fulfill all the operational standards set forth by our clients. release .
“We’ve now demonstrated hypersonic speed, added the complexity of a full runway landing with prompt payload recovery, and proven reusability. Both flights were great achievements for our country, our company, and our partners,” he added.
The Talon-A test aircraft will aid in the creation of hypersonic weaponry by enabling engineers to evaluate engines, sensors, and communication systems using its repeatable testing platform.
The vehicle utilizes a Hadley liquid rocket engine developed by the start-up Ursa Major.
Hypersonic weapons fly in the upper atmosphere at speeds above Mach 5, or over 6,200 km (3,850 miles) per hour.
Major U.S. defense corporations such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and RTX are all making progress with their hypersonic weapons initiatives. Additionally, these contractors are putting resources into developing detection and defensive mechanisms for countering these swift threats.
The examination occurs as the United States steps up its attempts to construct hypersonic abilities, aligning with Russia and China in an increasing worldwide competition to dominate the technology.
Russia has reportedly used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, while China has denied testing such weapons, despite U.S. military claims.