US successfully tests Talon-A2 hypersonic vehicle, exceeding Mach 5

Stratolaunch's Talon-A2 hypersonic vehicle has successfully completed two test flights, marking the United States' return to reusable hypersonic flight testing for the first time since the 1960s X-15 program. The uncrewed Talon-A2, launched from the giant Roc carrier aircraft over the Pacific, achieved speeds exceeding Mach 5 before landing safely at California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. These tests, conducted under the Pentagon's Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program, are seen as critical steps for the U.S. to advance hypersonic technologies amid competition with China and Russia. The flights demonstrated not only hypersonic speed but also vehicle reusability and prompt recovery, providing valuable data for ongoing research and development. Stratolaunch, originally founded by Paul Allen, shifted its focus from satellite launches to hypersonic testing and has received a mix of private and government funding for these efforts. The program aims to accelerate the development and evaluation of hypersonic weapons and related technologies for national security.