:

Missile Defense

Stratolaunch Announces Hypersonic Flight Test With Missile Defense Agency

By Cal Biesecker

Thursday, May 21st, 2026

SHARE:

Stratolaunch Announces Hypersonic Flight Test With Missile Defense Agency

Stratolaunch's Talon-A flight test vehicle in foreground. Behind it is the company's 747 Spirit of Mojave launch platform. Photo: Stratolaunch

Stratolaunch on Thursday said that it successfully conducted a hypersonic flight test in March for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), launching its liquid engine-powered Talon-A3 reusable flight vehicle from a company-owned carrier aircraft that is now fully operational. The Talon-A3 aircraft was fueled by Ursa Major’s Hadley engine for the March 6 flight. The test vehicle achieved hypersonic speed, which is qualified as MACH 5-plus, a Stratolaunch spokesperson told Defense Daily. The flight test vehicle collects data in “high-speed flight…

Congress

Senate’s CR Has Ship Construction Exemption, Forgoes White House’s Battleship, Munitions Requests

The Senate on Sunday released a bipartisan stopgap funding proposal to keep the government open through December 11, which would also secure additional funds to support ongoing shipbuilding efforts and […]

Congress

U.S. Fighter Fleet Will Expand By 2040 But More Stealth Aircraft Will Mean Less Availability, CBO Says

The number of fighter aircraft in the U.S. military inventory will decline over the next few years before expanding to a greater number than currently, but their availability for operational […]

Congress

White House Details ‘Concerns’ With Shipbuilding, Spaced-Based Interceptor Oversight In House’s NDAA

The White House has detailed “a number of concerns” with the newly-passed House version of the next defense policy bill, to include the legislation’s limits on procuring Navy ships built […]

Congress

House Narrowly Votes To Pass $1.15 Trillion FY ‘27 NDAA, Blueprint For Reconciliation 3.0

The House on Wednesday narrowly voted to pass its $1.15 trillion version of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and a blueprint for a third reconciliation bill […]