Kratos Secures $1.45 Billion Contract to Enhance U.S. Hypersonic Testing Capabilities

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has been awarded a five-year contract worth up to $1.45 billion—the largest in the company's history—to lead the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program. This initiative, overseen by the U.S. Department of Defense's Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), is a key element of the National Hypersonic Initiative 2.0, which aims to accelerate the development and deployment of hypersonic technologies.

Purpose of MACH-TB 2.0

MACH-TB 2.0 is designed to bridge the gap between ground-based hypersonic tests and full-scale flight trials. By providing an affordable and efficient test bed, the program seeks to increase the frequency of hypersonic flight tests, thereby reducing development risks and costs. This approach is expected to expedite the transition of advanced hypersonic technologies into operational use, addressing a critical need in the nation's defense strategy.

Kratos' Role and Expertise

As the prime contractor for Task Area 1, Kratos will focus on Systems Engineering, Integration, and Testing (SEIT). The company will provide both subscale and full-scale launch services, along with comprehensive mission planning, to support the increased cadence of hypersonic flight tests. Kratos' recent successes with the Erinyes Hypersonic Flyer and Zeus Solid Rocket Motors underscore its leadership in hypersonic system testing and deployment.

Collaborative Effort

The MACH-TB 2.0 program is a collaborative endeavor involving key partners such as Leidos, Rocket Lab, Stratolaunch, and academic institutions including Purdue University and the University of Minnesota. These collaborators bring specialized expertise in engineering, integration, and testing, all crucial for achieving the program's objectives.

Strategic Significance

The National Hypersonic Initiative 2.0 emphasizes the rapid and cost-effective development of hypersonic capabilities to maintain the United States' technological edge. By focusing on affordability and production capacity, the initiative aims to enable the Department of Defense to procure hypersonic weapons in large quantities, thereby enhancing national security.

Leadership Perspectives

George Rumford, TRMC Director, stated, "MACH-TB is an essential tool to accelerate science and technology experiments into next-generation hypersonic capabilities for our nation." Michael Johns, Senior Vice President of Kratos SRE, added, "The nation is at a critical point in the need for rapid and affordable hypersonic flight testing, and the MACH-TB program is filling that need."

Conclusion

Kratos' leadership in the MACH-TB 2.0 program represents a significant advancement in the United States' efforts to develop and deploy hypersonic technologies. By enhancing testing capabilities and reducing development timelines, this initiative is poised to play a pivotal role in strengthening national defense.