US military-backed hypersonic vehicle to hit Mach 5+ in test with new rocket engine

“This version increases engine reusability with additional starts, driving down cost per flight while supporting new test objectives and mission profiles,” said Chris Spagnoletti, president of liquid systems at Ursa Major.

He added that the H13 uses advanced metals and is designed to fly more than twice as many missions as the current engine variant.

Talon-A to get a new engines

According to Ursa Major, the H13 is an evolution of the Hadley engine, which already powers Stratolaunch’s Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle. Talon-A, if you are unaware, is a reusable hypersonic vehicle capable of flying over Mach 5 (i.e., it can travel at five times the speed of sound).

It is air-launched from Stratolaunch’s giant carrier aircraft (the world’s largest by wingspan). Talon-A is currently being used by the Pentagon as a test platform for military hypersonic technologies.

The vehicle also recently completed a successful Mach 5+ flight test in May of this year. That was the second successful flight for this revolutionary piece of technology.

“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,” said Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch, in a release.

“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,” he added.

Given the latest news from Ursa Major, improved propulsion systems could be based on these findings. This is a significant announcement because hypersonic testing is a top U.S. defense priority, as countries like China and Russia are advancing fast in this area.

“This contract directly supports U.S. hypersonic test infrastructure and the broader imperative to accelerate high-speed flight programs that deliver for national security,” said Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major.

More thrust, more speed

“As the proud partner and hypersonic propulsion provider to Stratolaunch, we’re focused on getting real capability into the field – faster, at scale, and without compromising performance,” he added.

Testing hypersonic vehicles is expensive and technically challenging; therefore, reusable platforms like Talon-A and more robust engines, such as the H13, help reduce costs and increase test frequency.

The upgraded H13 engines support this by offering higher thrust (5,000 lbf) and longer lifespans, utilizing oxygen-rich staged combustion. That is a highly efficient engine cycle typically reserved for large space launchers.

This deal strengthens the U.S. hypersonic testing infrastructure by giving Stratolaunch more advanced, cost-effective engines to use in Talon-A test flights. It’s a strategic effort to speed up the development of hypersonic weapons and defenses in a competitive global landscape.