Stratolaunch Achieves Hypersonic Milestone with Reusable Talon-A2 Drone
California-based startup Stratolaunch has achieved a significant breakthrough in hypersonic flight, successfully completing two test flights of its Talon-A2 reusable aircraft. This achievement marks a pivotal moment in the development of hypersonic technology and positions Stratolaunch as a leader in this rapidly evolving field. The Talon-A2 is the first fully autonomous drone to attain speeds exceeding Mach 5, signifying a major advancement in unmanned hypersonic flight capabilities.
These groundbreaking test flights were conducted as part of the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency (MDA) hypersonic testbed program. This program is reminiscent of Cold War-era initiatives like the X-15 program, which explored the frontiers of hypersonic flight in the 1960s. The X-15, a rocket-powered aircraft, was retired in 1968, leaving a void in hypersonic research and development. Stratolaunch’s Talon-A2 program aims to fill this void and propel the United States back to the forefront of hypersonic technology.
The Talon-A2 exceeded Mach 5 during test flights conducted in December 2024 and March 2025, Stratolaunch announced this week. The success of these flights demonstrates the company’s ability to design, build, and operate reusable hypersonic vehicles.
"We’ve now demonstrated hypersonic speed, added the complexity of a full runway landing with prompt payload recovery, and proven reusability," said Zachary Krevor, president and CEO of Stratolaunch, in a statement. This statement underscores the significance of the Talon-A2’s reusability, which has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of hypersonic flight research and development.
The Talon-A prototype is an autonomous, reusable aircraft capable of flying at least five times the speed of sound. During its test flights, the Talon-A2 was released over the Pacific Ocean from Roc, the largest airplane ever built. Roc, with Talon-A1 or A2 tucked beneath its massive wings, takes off from a runway, ascends to a designated altitude, and then releases the hypersonic vehicle. The Talon-A2 then ignites its rocket engine, accelerates to hypersonic speeds, and eventually glides back to Earth for a runway landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Stratolaunch was founded in 2011 with the initial goal of using Roc to launch Orbital ATK’s Pegasus XL rocket into space. However, following the death of its founder, Paul Allen, in 2018, the company shifted its focus to developing, deploying, and flying hypersonic vehicles. This strategic pivot has proven to be a successful one, as Stratolaunch has quickly emerged as a key player in the hypersonic sector.
In December 2021, Stratolaunch announced a contract with the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency to provide a testbed for developing defense strategies against hypersonic threats. This contract solidified Stratolaunch’s role as a vital partner in the U.S. government’s efforts to counter the growing hypersonic capabilities of other nations.
In March 2024, Talon-A1 launched for its first powered test flight, reaching hypersonic speeds but falling slightly short of the Mach 5 target. Unlike Talon-A1, Stratolaunch’s latest prototype, Talon-A2, is fully reusable. This reusability is a critical feature that will enable more frequent and cost-effective hypersonic testing.
Stratolaunch is currently developing future versions of the Talon-A, which will be rocket-powered and capable of carrying customizable payloads at hypersonic speeds. These future versions will be instrumental in conducting a wide range of hypersonic experiments and testing new technologies.
The company is also working on a larger hypersonic vehicle, dubbed Talon-Z, and a spaceplane nicknamed Black Ice, that would carry payloads – and potentially passengers – to Earth orbit. These ambitious projects demonstrate Stratolaunch’s long-term vision for the future of hypersonic flight and space access.
Talon-A2’s recent flights mark the first hypersonic flights since the X-15 program conducted by the U.S. Air Force and NASA. The X-15 hypersonic aircraft were air-launched from a B-52 aircraft and flew a total of 199 times over the span of 10 years. The program ended in the late 1960s due to a lack of funding and a shift of focus toward orbital missions.
The Department of Defense has shown a renewed interest in hypersonic vehicles as other nations like China and Russia are working on developing their own. The U.S. has never operated a reusable hypersonic vehicle, a capability that could significantly reduce costs.
"Demonstrating the reuse of fully recoverable hypersonic test vehicles is an important milestone for MACH-TB," said George Rumford, director of the Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center, in a statement. "Lessons learned from this test campaign will help us reduce vehicle turnaround time from months down to weeks." This statement highlights the importance of the Talon-A2’s reusability in accelerating the development of hypersonic technology.
The success of Stratolaunch’s Talon-A2 program represents a major step forward in the development of reusable hypersonic vehicles. This technology has the potential to revolutionize air travel, space access, and national defense. As Stratolaunch continues to develop and refine its hypersonic vehicles, it is poised to play a leading role in shaping the future of hypersonic flight. The reusability aspect of the Talon-A2 is particularly significant, as it promises to dramatically lower the costs associated with hypersonic research and development, paving the way for more frequent testing and faster innovation. With the continued support of the Pentagon and other stakeholders, Stratolaunch is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious goals and usher in a new era of hypersonic flight. The ability to recover and reuse hypersonic test vehicles will undoubtedly accelerate the pace of technological advancements and contribute to the development of advanced defense systems and commercial applications. Stratolaunch’s achievements serve as a testament to the power of innovation and the importance of investing in cutting-edge technologies.
