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Missile Defense

Stratolaunch Announces Hypersonic Flight Test With Missile Defense Agency

By Cal Biesecker

Thursday, May 21st, 2026

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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…

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