Stratolaunch has reported the successful testing of the Talon-A2 autonomous hypersonic drone. During the flight, it overcame the Mach 5 mark.
Stratolaunch was founded in 2011 by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Its main goal was to create an aerospace system designed to launch cargo into space using the air-launch scheme. For this purpose, the company built Roc: an airplane with the largest wingspan in aviation history.
After Allen’s death in 2019, the project faced financial difficulties. Soon, the company changed owners. Its new owners decided to change its business profile and use Roc as an autonomous platform for launching experimental hypersonic vehicles.
In March 2024, Stratolaunch performed a test of the Talon-A1 disposable drone, which reached a speed of just under Mach 5. This success allowed the next phase of testing to begin. It involved a reusable vehicle called Talon-A2. It is powered by Ursa Major’s Hadley rocket engine, a reusable unit with a staged combustion cycle using liquid oxygen and kerosene.
Talon-A2 tests took place in December 2024 and March 2025 with Pentagon support. The drone was dropped from the Roc over the Pacific Ocean, reached speeds in excess of Mach 5 and then landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The successful test was a major milestone for Stratolaunch. The company says its reusable platform is a cheaper and quicker turnaround alternative to traditional systems, allowing for faster data acquisition and repeat testing. Flying also had an important symbolic meaning. This is the first time since the X-15 program, which ended in 1968 when the U.S. tested a reusable hypersonic vehicle.
According to Spacenews
