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US Conducts Hypersonic Flight Test with Stratolaunch

March 6, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

US Missile Defense Agency conducts hypersonic flight test with Stratolaunch.
Test used Talon-A3 vehicle and modified Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft.
Mission supported MDA's Flight Test Experiment Other-04.
Stratolaunch received $24.7 million MDA agreement in January 2025.

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Strategic Implications

This test may indicate the US's growing focus on hypersonic defense capabilities. The collaboration between Stratolaunch and MDA suggests a push for accelerated innovation in high-speed flight, which could enhance the nation's ability to detect and defeat hostile hypersonic threats.

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What Happened

Stratolaunch Supports MDA Hypersonic Defense Efforts

The US Missile Defense Agency conducted a hypersonic flight test from Mojave Air and Space Port using Stratolaunch’s Talon-A3 vehicle and a modified Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft. The test supported MDA’s Flight Test Experiment Other-04 and is part of continuing flight operations with MDA in support of hypersonic flight testing. Stratolaunch’s Talon-A vehicles are designed as reusable hypersonic test platforms that can gather data in high-speed flight environments. The test comes as MDA works to expand US capability to detect, track, and eventually defeat hostile hypersonic weapons. This development was first reported by AeroTime.

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