MACH-TB project: U.S. successfully completes second flight of reusable hypersonic test vehicle

DoD Demonstrates Reusability of Hypersonic Test Vehicle

MAY 15, 2025 – The Defense Department conducted a second successful flight of a fully recoverable uncrewed hypersonic test vehicle in March 2025, with the first being in December 2024. This test campaign, led by DOD’s Test Resource Management Center, in partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, marks the nation’s first return to reusable hypersonic flight testing since the X-15 hypersonic research program ended in 1968. In b…

DOD Demonstrates Reusability of Hypersonic Test Vehicle

May 14, 2025 | By DoD News  The Defense Department conducted a second successful flight of a fully recoverable uncrewed hypersonic test vehicle in March 2025, with the first being in December 2024.   This test campaign, led by DOD’s Test Resource Management Center, in partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, marks the nation’s first return to reusable hypersonic flight testing since the X-15 hypersonic research program ende…

MACH-TB project: U.S. successfully completes second flight of reusable hypersonic test vehicle

Led by the DOD’s Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) in collaboration with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, the test campaign represents the first reusable hypersonic flight testing since the X-15 hypersonic research programme ended in 1968. The Talon-A hypersonic vehicle, powered by a liquid rocket engine and launched from a carrier aircraft, achieved speeds greater than Mach 5 over the Pacific Ocean before landing at Vanden…

Stratolaunch Completes First Flight of a Reusable Hypersonic Aircraft Since 1968

In the 1960s the X-15 program proved to be an incalculably valuable asset to hypersonic flight testing that allowed for various advanced projects like the Apollo program, advanced warhead reentry vehicles, and the Space Shuttle to come to fruition. Retired in 1968 no vehicle since has broken its crewed speed record of Mach 6.7 (7,274 km/h) largely because the need for such performance has never returned. Until now. Talon-A2 suspended from the Ro…