Stratolaunch Roc set to launch Talon-A on first hypersonic flight

In the realm of Middle Eastern mythology, the Roc, a formidable avian creature, is renowned for its strength, capable of grasping an elephant in its talons. Drawing inspiration from this legendary bird, the Stratolaunch company has brought forth the colossal Roc aircraft, an engineering marvel named after the mythical griffin-like being. This aircraft boasts the extraordinary ability to carry an astonishing 500,000 pounds of payload, equivalent to the weight of over 33 large elephants. Its wingspan, an impressive 385 feet, distinguishes it as the widest operational airplane, necessitating an entire hangar at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California to accommodate its grandeur.

Aaron Cassebeer, Senior Vice President for Engineering at Stratolaunch, revealed in an interview with C4ISRNET that witnessing the entirety of the Roc requires moving it out of the hangar, underscoring the sheer magnitude of this airborne behemoth.

Originally conceptualized as a space launch platform utilizing two Boeing 747 fuselages to transport small rockets to high altitudes for orbital deployment, the Roc underwent a strategic shift in 2019. The company redirected its focus towards a new mission: hypersonic flight testing.

Presently, the Roc is undergoing preparations for a groundbreaking hypersonic test flight, featuring the Talon-A hypersonic test aircraft. Anticipated to reach Mach 5 speeds, this pivotal flight is slated to take place before the year concludes. Following this inaugural flight, a subsequent mission in early 2024 is planned, where the Talon-A system will achieve hypersonic speeds and execute a runway landing.

The significance of the Talon-A test campaign extends to the Defense Department hypersonic endeavors, concentrating on the development and deployment of high-speed weapons. This initiative aims to counter similar systems being developed by China and Russia. The Talon-A system could provide the department with a reusable and cost-effective platform for testing and validating high-speed components, subsystems, and other crucial technologies, according to Zachary Krevor, CEO of Stratolaunch.

While the exact cost of a single Talon-A flight remains undisclosed, Krevor emphasized that it is significantly less than the average cost of hypersonic flight tests conducted by the Department of Defense, which typically amounts to around $100 million. The prospect of achieving a monthly flight test cadence is expected to demonstrate a tangible return on investment for the Defense Department by the end of 2025.

In the lead-up to the first hypersonic mission, Stratolaunch engineers and flight crews have meticulously prepared both the Roc and Talon-A through a series of ground and flight tests. These include a drop test, taxi test, and the recent completion of the first captive carry flight, providing valuable data on Talon-A propulsion system.

As the company evaluates data from these tests, the Talon-A production line remains active, with three additional aircraft in various stages of assembly. The company ability to manufacture multiple systems simultaneously underscores its commitment to meeting the growing demand for reusable hypersonic flight testing services.

Stratolaunch strategic acquisition of a second carrier aircraft, a Boeing 747 formerly owned by Virgin Orbit, further positions the company to accommodate the increasing demand for Talon-A flights. With a nearly full manifest for 2024 and existing contracts to support test flights, Stratolaunch innovative approach to hypersonic flight testing is poised to make a substantial impact on the Defense Department pursuit of advanced aerospace capabilities.