Latest news with #Talon-A
Sustainability Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- Sustainability Times
China Stunned as "Fire Trails Burned the Clouds" When New Mach 5+ Aircraft Powered by US Breakthrough Made First Public Flight
IN A NUTSHELL 🚀 Ursa Major secures a $32.9 million contract for advanced H13 rocket engines. secures a $32.9 million contract for advanced H13 rocket engines. ✈️ Talon-A , a reusable hypersonic test vehicle, plays a crucial role in military advancements. , a reusable hypersonic test vehicle, plays a crucial role in military advancements. 🔧 Upgraded engines offer higher thrust and longer lifespans to enhance hypersonic testing. and longer lifespans to enhance hypersonic testing. 🌐 Collaboration strengthens U.S. infrastructure in the global race for technology superiority. The aerospace sector is witnessing a groundbreaking evolution with the latest developments in hypersonic technology. At the forefront is the U.S.-based company, Ursa Major, which has secured a substantial $32.9 million contract to provide advanced H13 rocket engines for Stratolaunch's innovative Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle. This strategic partnership is designed to enhance the Talon-A's capabilities, underscoring the U.S.'s commitment to advancing hypersonic testing. With these enhancements, the Talon-A is poised to achieve greater reusability and efficiency, propelling it further into the future of aerospace technology. Talon-A to Get New Engines The Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle epitomizes cutting-edge aerospace innovation. This vehicle, launched from Stratolaunch's massive carrier aircraft, is powered by the H13 engines from Ursa Major and can achieve speeds exceeding Mach 5, which equates to five times the speed of sound. The Talon-A serves as a critical platform for testing military hypersonic technologies, a priority for the Pentagon. In May, the Talon-A completed its second successful flight test at speeds over Mach 5, marking a pivotal moment in hypersonic research. 'With the data collected from this second flight, we are able to apply lessons learned to enhance the strength and performance of the Talon-A vehicles,' remarked Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch. The collaboration with Ursa Major aims to leverage these findings, refining propulsion systems for more robust performance. This initiative aligns with the U.S.'s strategic focus on hypersonic testing, particularly as countries like China and Russia continue their advancements in this field. 'Watched cracked metal-like plastic mend itself': ATSP's Heat-Triggered Healing Could Replace Steel in Cars, Jets, and Spacecraft More Thrust, More Speed Hypersonic testing presents significant technical challenges and high costs, making the development of reusable platforms like the Talon-A essential. The upgraded H13 engines promise to deliver a thrust of 5,000 lbf with longer lifespans through oxygen-rich staged combustion. This efficient engine cycle, typically used for large space launchers, showcases the sophistication of Stratolaunch's technology. These engines are designed to reduce costs and increase test frequency, facilitating rapid advancements in hypersonic capabilities. The partnership between Ursa Major and Stratolaunch is a strategic effort to enhance the U.S.'s hypersonic testing infrastructure. By providing advanced, cost-effective engines, this collaboration aims to expedite the development of hypersonic weapons and defenses, crucial in a global landscape where speed and technological superiority are paramount. 'Watched purple streaks dance above Earth': Calgary Students Launch City's First Satellite to Unravel Mystery of Rare STEVE Lights Strategic Importance of Hypersonic Testing The significance of this contract with Ursa Major extends beyond technological advancements. Hypersonic testing is a top priority for national defense, as it plays a pivotal role in maintaining technological superiority. With China and Russia advancing rapidly in hypersonic technology, it is imperative for the U.S. to stay ahead. The Talon-A, with its enhanced propulsion system, positions the U.S. as a leader in hypersonic research and development. Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major, emphasized the importance of this contract, stating, 'This contract directly supports U.S. hypersonic test infrastructure and the broader imperative to accelerate high-speed flight programs that deliver for national security.' The collaboration aims to provide real capabilities in the field, focusing on speed and efficiency without compromising performance. This underscores the strategic importance of hypersonic testing in global defense dynamics. Prostate Cancer Debate Erupts as 'Four a Week May Shield, But More Can Harm' According to Massive Chinese Meta-Analysis The Future of Hypersonic Technology As the aerospace industry continues to evolve, developments in hypersonic technology are set to redefine the limits of speed and efficiency. The Talon-A, equipped with the advanced H13 engines, represents the future of aerospace innovation. The collaboration between Ursa Major and Stratolaunch is a testament to the potential of public-private partnerships in advancing national defense capabilities. The focus on reusability and cost-effectiveness is critical as the U.S. seeks to maintain its edge in the global hypersonic race. With ongoing advancements, the potential for hypersonic vehicles in both military and civilian applications grows. The achievements seen in the Talon-A project signify the beginning of a new era, paving the way for future innovations in aerospace technology. The strides made in hypersonic technology with the Talon-A and the H13 engines represent a significant milestone in aerospace innovation. As the U.S. continues to prioritize hypersonic testing, the collaboration between Ursa Major and Stratolaunch sets the stage for future advancements. How will these developments shape the future of global defense and aerospace technology? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (26)
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Northrop tests tech to help hypersonic vehicles maneuver without GPS
Two recent groundbreaking hypersonic test flights featured a Northrop Grumman capability designed to allow high-speed systems to navigate and maneuver when GPS isn't available. The company told Defense News this week that its inertial measurement unit, or IMU, flew onboard Stratolaunch's Talon-A glide vehicle during its first two hypersonic flights in December and March. The successful demonstration of IMU technology on a hypersonic aircraft — which can travel and maneuver at speeds of Mach 5 or higher — is an industry first, according to Jonathan Green, Northrop's chief technology officer for emerging capabilities development. 'It met all of our goals … and the fact that it survived throughout this first flight test — these are all incredibly positive developments for how we're maturing this technology,' he said in an interview. The Pentagon disclosed the Talon-A tests this week, marking the first successful flights of a reusable hypersonic vehicle since the X-15 program ended in 1968. The U.S. in recent years has increased its investment in high-speed weaponry and aircraft, and Stratolaunch's testbed reflects a renewed urgency to create test opportunities for the components and subsystems needed to support major hypersonic development efforts. Northrop's Advanced Hypersonic Technology IMU is designed to allow high-speed systems to navigate without GPS — a capability that could be disrupted by adverse weather, difficult terrain or enemy jamming and spoofing. Using advanced sensors to understand how a platform is moving through its environment, the IMU calculates where the system has traveled and what path it needs to take to continue on its trajectory. According to Josei Chang, senior director of advanced technologies at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, the system performed as expected during the flight tests and accurately calculated the vehicle's path. While Northrop has developed IMUs for spacecraft, this version is a smaller, more rugged system, repackaged to fit on an air vehicle and designed to survive the harsh conditions of Mach 5 flight. 'What we have done within Northrop Grumman is to develop an inertial navigation technology that really started from our lineage in space-based inertial navigation,' Green said. 'We took that capability, that portfolio of technology, and enhanced it.' The hypersonic flights represent a significant milestone for the system, which is still in the research and development phase. An abstract for an upcoming navigation conference notes Northrop is developing IMU technology in partnership with the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Systems Center, but the company declined to confirm whether it has any formal development partners or contracts. Northrop plans to test the IMU on a sounding rocket sometime this quarter and is also eyeing another test event later this year at Holloman Air Force Base in Utah. That test will focus on how the system performs in an environment with high gravitational force. The company is also closely tracking Talon-A's test schedule, though Green wouldn't confirm whether the IMU would be on Stratolaunch's next flight, slated for this spring or summer. 'This partnership that we've had with Stratolaunch to get the system out there and get it tested was absolutely critical,' he said. 'It does speak to the importance of being able to test these things and have the resources to test these things.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
US tests hypersonic aircraft, advances toward China in arms race
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways (NewsNation) — The Department of Defense announced Monday the United States successfully completed two test flights of a reusable hypersonic aircraft, marking a significant step in the development of weapons capable of flying more than five times the speed of sound. The advancement helps close the gap in hypersonic technology between the U.S. and rival powers like China and Russia, both of which already have hypersonic weapons at their disposal. Russia has used hypersonic missiles in its war against Ukraine. US Army pausing helicopter training flights around Pentagon The aircraft can attack from great distances and maneuver in ways that aim to trick adversaries and dodge traditional defenses. They are capable of carrying both conventional explosives and nuclear warheads. Ballistic missiles can also travel at these hypersonic speeds; however, they have to follow a flight path. This makes them much easier to intercept before they reach their target. The U.S. also has cruise missiles, which can move around but travel much more slowly. Pentagon hired tech startups to help with hypersonic aircraft Under pressure from Congress to increase progress on hypersonic technology, the Pentagon, whose funding for its development has lagged over the years, enlisted two tech startups — Stratolaunch and Ursa Major. Hegseth directs 20% cut to top military leadership positions The recent test flights involved an autonomous drone, the Talon-A, which was carried up from the Mojave Desert by a larger Roc carrier aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. The flights, conducted in December and March, reached speeds of Mach 5, the hypersonic threshold, according to the Pentagon. According to the Wall Street Journal, hypersonic missiles are crucial, since they can travel anywhere in the world in less than an hour. The Talon-A's reusability is critical, allowing faster turnaround between missions and reducing costs. What was the X-15 program? The test marks the country's first return to reusable hypersonic flight trials since the manned X-15 program ended nearly 60 years ago, highlighting the urgency of advancing America's hypersonic capabilities. The North American X-15 hypersonic aircraft was operated by NASA and the U.S. Air Force. In 1967, it reached its highest speed of 4,520 mph. The program allowed 12 pilots to fly on nearly 200 flights. Some pilots were even classified as astronauts by exceeding 50 miles in altitude. NASA research pilot Bill Dana poses in front of the hypersonic X-15 aircraft, October 24, 1967. Image courtesy National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) Aerial view of the 3.5-Foot Hypersonic Tunnel Complex at the Ames Research Center, Moffett Federal Airfield, California, 1977. Image courtesy National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) Branch Chief Thomas Canning stands beside a Hypersonic Free-Flight Aerodynamic Facility combustion-driven shock tube at Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, 1966. Image courtesy National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) (Original Caption) This artist's rendering illustrates the advanced hypersonic concept in entry vehicles achieved by Lockhead-California Company Engineers. The Fuselage is uniquely contoured to provide aerodynamic control in both high and low speed regimes. The design breakthrough eliminates the outer fins, which means that a smaller surface area is exposed to high temperature as the hypersonic craft flies back through the atmosphere and returns to earth for landing. Photograph of the NASA engineer mounting the M-1 Lifting Body in the throat of the Hypersonic Tunnel at the NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, 1964. Image courtesy National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) According to NASA, the program completed its purpose of 'supporting piloted hypersonic flight within and outside the Earth's atmosphere.' 'The history of hypersonics is full of examples of successful programs that we have shut down prematurely, usually because of money,' Mark J. Lewis, president and chief executive officer of Purdue Applied Research Institute, told the Wall Street Journal. China, Russia have hypersonic aircraft readily available China and Russia have hypersonic aircraft readily available, which could alter the United States' strategic plans, according to the Journal. These aircraft could be used to go around the early warning systems the U.S. has in place for detecting attacks. They could also be used to hit naval aircraft carriers and key bases. Chinese companies eye moves to US amid sky-high tariffs In the South China Sea, even with the most advanced warship, the U.S. could still be defenseless against a hypersonic aircraft, the Journal reported. Hypersonic missiles could double Beijing's reach, leaving U.S. ships defenseless, and could even strike Guam, where thousands of U.S. troops are stationed. A former Pentagon senior official told the Journal that since the late 1960s, China has tested hypersonic flight at about ten times the rate of the U.S. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Axios
07-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Stratolaunch goes hypersonic with reusable Talon-A vehicle
Two hypersonic flight tests were completed mere months apart using the same autonomous vehicle, a milestone for the U.S. as it jockeys with other world powers for speedy, maneuverable weapons. Why it matters: The Talon-A flights handled by Stratolaunch contribute to the Pentagon's Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed program (MACH-TB). The U.S. has lacked a recoverable hypersonic aircraft for decades, since the X-15 was ditched. What they're saying: "We've now demonstrated hypersonic speed, added the complexity of a full runway landing with prompt payload recovery, and proven reusability," Stratolaunch CEO Zachary Krevor said in an announcement. In both instances, Talon-A launched from a larger aircraft known as Roc and landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. What we're hearing: There are additional chefs in the kitchen. Leidos, for example, oversees MACH-TB. Northrop Grumman tested its Advanced Hypersonic Technology Inertial Measurement Unit aboard Talon-A. The company said it collected "hours of critical ground and flight data." Ursa Major's Hadley engine sustained the speeds. CEO Dan Jablonsky in March told Axios the company is pouring money into "hypersonics, hypersonics and hypersonics."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Talon-A exceeds Mach 5 speed as US successfully tests reusable hypersonic vehicle
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways In a step that could bolster the U.S.'s hypersonic weapons push, the Pentagon on Monday confirmed the second successful test of a reusable hypersonic vehicle in March, just three months after the first trial. The test marked the country's first return to reusable hypersonic flight testing since the end of the manned X-15 program in 1968. The revelation comes just days after the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced it had successfully demonstrated an end-to-end hypersonic flight test using a sea-based cold-gas launch system from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on April 25. Milestone tests The Stratolaunch Talon-A hypersonic vehicle was launched mid-air from the Roc carrier aircraft, flew over the Pacific Ocean, and exceeded speeds of Mach 5 before safely landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base. These milestone tests were conducted under the Test Resource Management Center's (TRMC) Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) initiative. Stratolaunch, a California-based aerospace firm, developed the Talon-A test vehicle. Its first successful flight in December 2024 was not publicly disclosed until now. Roc—the world's largest aircraft with a twin fuselage—served as the launch platform for the Talon-A hypersonic vehicle. "Demonstrating the reuse of fully recoverable hypersonic test vehicles is an important milestone for MACH-TB. Lessons learned from this test campaign will help us reduce vehicle turnaround time from months down to weeks," said George Rumford, Director of the TRMC. Reusable design saves costs Unlike conventional single-use rockets, the reusable craft can be quickly redeployed at a lower cost, accelerating the development of next-generation weapons that fly at several times the speed of sound, reducing adversaries' response time, and bypassing traditional defenses. MACH-TB aims to accelerate the delivery of advanced hypersonic capabilities by enabling the Department of Defense (DoD), other federal agencies, industry, and academia to conduct affordable and rapid hypersonic experiments and test system components. NSWC Crane awarded the MACH-TB contract to Leidos on behalf of the TRMC. Leidos, as the prime contractor, then awarded a competitive contract to Stratolaunch to provide flight test services for the program. 'With the data collected from this second flight, we are able to apply lessons learned to enhance the strength and performance of the Talon-A vehicles. While the team needs to complete its data review of flight two, the first flight review confirmed the robustness of the Talon-A design while demonstrating the ability to meet the full range of performance capabilities desired by our customers,' said Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch said in a release. 'We've now demonstrated hypersonic speed, added the complexity of a full runway landing with prompt payload recovery, and proven reusability. Both flights were great achievements for our country, our company, and our partners,' he added. The Talon-A test vehicle will help develop hypersonic weapons by allowing engineers to test engines, sensors, and communication systems aboard its reusable platform. The vehicle is powered by a Hadley liquid rocket engine built by startup Ursa Major. Hypersonic weapons fly in the upper atmosphere at speeds above Mach 5, or over 6,200 km (3,850 miles) per hour. U.S. defense giants like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and RTX are all advancing their hypersonic programs. Contractors are also investing in systems to detect and defend against these fast-moving threats. The test comes as the United States intensifies its efforts to build hypersonic capabilities, joining Russia and China in a growing global race to master the technology. Russia has reportedly used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, while China has denied testing such weapons, despite U.S. military claims.
