A California-based company is set to conduct 20 hypersonic test flight with the help of a new contract. Rocket Lab Corporation has received a $190 million contract for a block buy of 20 hypersonic test flights with its HASTE launch vehicle.
This is for the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program.
The program is a U.S. Department of War effort executed in partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) to rapidly accelerate hypersonic flight tests and advanced aerospace technologies shaping the future of defense missions.
Rocket Lab will perform 20 hypersonic test flights
The signing of the latest contract is Rocket Lab’s single largest launch agreement yet.
Under MACH-TB 2.0 Task Area 1, led by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Rocket Lab will perform 20 hypersonic test flights with its HASTE launch vehicle over a four-year period.
The company also revealed that the first of these 20 new missions is expected to take place within months of contract signing, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s operational efficiency and ability to move quickly to meet modern warfare demands, according to the company.
Single largest launch contract in Rocket Lab’s history
The new award is the single largest launch contract in Rocket Lab’s history, bringing the total number of launches in backlog to more than 70 and pushing Rocket Lab’s total backlog across launch and space systems to more than $2 billion, according to a press release.
“Our expanded partnership with MACH-TB and the Department of War strengthens America’s national security and delivers reliable, modern hypersonic capabilities with speed and affordability,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck.
“Our advanced technology, responsive launch schedules, and mass production of our HASTE hypersonic rockets are enabling faster progress across a range of hypersonic experiments by our government and industry partners, and this latest contract is another proud moment for the team that builds the strength and resiliency of the United States’ aerospace efforts.”
Rocket Lab also claimed that it’s at the forefront of hypersonic flight tests for the nation.
With multiple HASTE launches at speeds of Mach 5+ already successfully completed for the MACH-TB program since 2023, this expanded multi-year launch partnership builds upon Rocket Lab’s demonstrated success delivering high-cadence hypersonic capabilities at scale for the warfighter – a critical technology area for the Department of War that will deliver the greatest impact, fastest results, and most decisive advantage for its armed forces.
With a 100% mission success rate across all HASTE launches, Rocket Lab continues to demonstrate the commercial responsiveness and precision that hypersonic programs demand to address pressing national security challenges, as per the release.