Stratolaunch's modified Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft, named Spirit of Mojave, took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in California. It carried the Talon-A3 hypersonic test vehicle under its wing.
At the right altitude and speed, the carrier released the Talon-A3. The reusable, rocket-powered vehicle then ignited its Ursa Major Hadley engine and flew at speeds above Mach 5. The mission, called FEX-04, successfully gathered important data on hypersonic flight, aerodynamics, and high-speed environments.
This was the latest in Stratolaunch’s series of tests using the Talon-A family of vehicles. The company announced the results on May 21, 2026. Using the Spirit of Mojave, a former Virgin Orbit plane, gives Stratolaunch more flexibility for future launches from regular airfields.
These tests help the United States develop better ways to track and defend against hypersonic threats. The Talon-A3 serves as a flying laboratory for reusable high-speed testing, supporting America’s efforts to stay ahead in hypersonic technology.
The flight marks steady progress in building reliable, repeatable hypersonic test capabilities for national defence.