Tag

Hypersonic

All articles tagged with #hypersonic

defense5 days ago•2 min saved

Castelion Raises $1B to Scale Hypersonic Missile Production

Castelion, a four-year-old defense-tech startup, closed a Series C of more than $1 billion ($800 million in equity and a $250 million revolving credit facility) at a $13 billion valuation to expand Blackbeard hypersonic missile production in New Mexico and hasten development of a broader offensive/defensive weapons portfolio. Led by JPMorgan Chase, Andreessen Horowitz and Carlyle, the round follows prior Navy contracts and signals a push for higher-rate, lower-cost missiles, with Blackbeard targeting initial fielding in 2027, a planned 500 missiles annually under a two-year framework, and a unit price near $384,000.

via SpaceNews|

#business #defense #hypersonic

military29 days ago•13 min saved

Rocket Lab to open Kodiak suborbital hub under Space Force contract

Rocket Lab will establish a new launch site at Alaska's Pacific Spaceport Complex Kodiak under a $266 million Space Force contract for up to 18 suborbital missions (12 launches with an option for six more); the first flight is scheduled no earlier than the end of 2026. The Kodiak facility expands Rocket Lab’s military launch capacity alongside its New Zealand and Virginia sites and will support hypersonic and missile-defense testing using its HASTE suborbital vehicle.

via SpaceNews|

#hypersonic #kodiak #military

military29 days ago•10 min saved

China develops 2,400°C-tolerant tantalum alloy for extreme-tech applications

Chinese researchers have created a tantalum-based alloy that can retain strength up to 2,400°C due to a engineered microstructure, potentially enabling components for hypersonic aircraft, rockets, spacecraft thermal protection systems and nuclear reactors, though commercialization will depend on cost, manufacturability and long-term durability.

via Interesting Engineering|

#alloy #extreme-heat #hypersonic

space-and-spaceflight2 months ago•16 min saved

Curveball Mystery: Rocket Lab's Secret Suborbital Mission Ends Up in Orbit

Rocket Lab's HASTE suborbital vehicle launched on the Curveball mission for a U.S. defense program on November 18, 2025. A few days later, the U.S. Space Force tracked the rocket in what appears to be a 120-mile orbit with a 40-degree inclination, but payload data remain undisclosed and it’s unclear whether the flight was intentionally aimed at orbit or ended up there by miscalculation, prompting questions about the mission’s outcome.

via Gizmodo|

#curveball #haste #hypersonic

europe2 months ago•53 min saved

Hypersonic gamble falters as Russia's missile blitz misfires in Ukraine

Over two days Russia launched about 600 drones and 90 missiles at Ukraine in a campaign costing roughly $411 million; one of the two Oreshnik hypersonic missiles reportedly fell short into Russian-held territory near Adviivka, marking a reliability setback for Moscow’s Mach-10 system, which has now seen four missiles fired with a 25% failure rate. The strikes damaged Kyiv landmarks and caused civilian casualties (four killed, about 100 injured), underscoring the high cost and uncertain effectiveness of Moscow’s latest weapon.

via The National|

#defence #drones #europe

world3 months ago•5 min saved

Kyiv under siege as Russia boosts attack with hypersonic Oreshnik missile

Russia launched a large-scale assault on Kyiv, including its third use of the hypersonic Oreshnik missile, backed by hundreds of drones and missiles. The strike hit civilian infrastructure such as a water facility, a market, schools and government buildings, killing at least four and injuring dozens (Ukraine citing around 83 injured at one point). Kyiv was hardest hit with damage across the city, while international leaders condemned the attack and warned of consequences for Russia.

via The Guardian|

#hypersonic #kyiv #oreshnik

military5 months ago•13 min saved

Rocket Lab lands Pentagon deal to run 20 hypersonic tests with HASTE

Rocket Lab won a $190 million Pentagon contract to conduct 20 hypersonic flight tests over four years using its HASTE suborbital variant of the Electron rocket, enabling payloads to experience Mach 5+ conditions before release. The MACH-TB 2.0 program aims to accelerate hypersonic testing by leveraging commercial launchers, complementing constrained government test infrastructure; Rocket Lab’s backlog now exceeds 70 missions.

via SpaceNews|

#haste #hypersonic #mach-tb-20

defense5 months ago•5 min saved

Rocket Lab Wins Record $190M Hypersonic Launch Contract Under MACH-TB 2.0

Rocket Lab lands its largest-ever launch deal, a $190 million contract to perform 20 HASTE hypersonic flights for MACH-TB 2.0 with the U.S. Department of Defense, NSWC Crane; the multi-year program expands backlog to over 70 launches and more than $2 billion, with the first mission expected within months.

via Rocket Lab|

#defense #defense-contract #haste

world6 months ago•23 min saved

China's Futuristic Carrier Faces Reality Check

China is reportedly pursuing a carrier-style, futuristic superweapon capable of launching unmanned fighters and hypersonic missiles, but analysts doubt its viability due to U.S. long-range defenses, aerial targeting, and questionable resource allocation amid ongoing Taiwan tensions.

via OutKick|

#china #hypersonic #military

technology1 year ago•3 min saved

Europe advances hypersonic and spaceplane technology with INVICTUS and ESA projects

INVICTUS is a European research program led by ESA and Frazer-Nash to develop hypersonic technologies for reusable vehicles capable of Mach 5 flight, focusing on advanced propulsion systems and spaceplane capabilities, with industry and academic collaboration to test and demonstrate key technologies for future aerospace applications.

via European Space Agency|

#esa #hypersonic #invictus

science-and-exploration2 years ago•3 min saved

"Europe's Hypersonic Leap into Space"

European engineers are working on hypersonic vehicles that could revolutionize air and space travel, potentially allowing passengers to travel from Brussels to Sydney in three hours. The European Space Agency (ESA) is exploring the technological challenges and opportunities for creating reusable hypersonic vehicles for both Earth and space travel. A recent workshop in Germany brought together experts to discuss key areas such as airbreathing propulsion, thermal management, and crew safety systems.

via European Space Agency|

#aeronautics #esa #hypersonic

aerospace-technology2 years ago•2 min saved

"Navigating the Trials of Hypersonic Flight"

Researchers are exploring the challenges of steering hypersonic planes, which travel at more than five times the speed of sound, through plasma using magnetohydrodynamics to manipulate the flow pattern of electrically charged particles. Conventional control surfaces are not viable due to the forces and heat involved, prompting the need for a different approach. Dr. Hisham Ali and his team are building a plasma wind tunnel to test these ideas, with potential applications in spacecraft deceleration and military missile guidance. The feasibility of hypersonic passenger flight remains uncertain, but the research represents a step towards this possibility.

via The Economist|

#aerospace-engineering #aerospace-technology #aircraft-steering

militaryconflict2 years ago•2 min saved

"Russia's First Use of Hypersonic Zircon Missile in Ukraine: Expert Analysis"

Experts believe that Russia has fired a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile for the first time in Ukraine, with evidence found from a recent attack. The missile, part of Russia's hypersonic program, can reach speeds of up to 6,000 mph and is touted as "invincible" by Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, analysis by researchers at the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise suggests that the missile may not meet the tactical and technical characteristics claimed by Russia.

via Business Insider|

#hypersonic #military-technology #militaryconflict

military2 years ago•2 min saved

"Russia's Kinzhal Missile Fails to Impress as UK Jets Monitor Black Sea"

The British Defense Ministry has stated that Russia's hypersonic Kinzhal missile has performed poorly during Moscow's war in Ukraine. This comes after the Kremlin announced new Black Sea patrols with jets carrying the "next generation" weapon. The Kinzhal missile, also known as the "Dagger," has been touted by Russia as hypersonic and unstoppable, but Western experts argue that it may not be as invulnerable to air defenses as claimed. The U.K. government emphasized that the Kinzhal remains in operational testing and needs significant improvement to achieve its potential. The announcement of the missile's inclusion in the patrols is seen as strategic messaging to demonstrate Russia's ability to produce and operate newly developed weapons despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

via Newsweek|

#black-sea #hypersonic #kinzhal-missile

military3 years ago•2 min saved

"Russian Su-34 Jet Strikes Ukraine with Hypersonic 'Kinzhals' in Historic First"

Russian state media reports that a Su-34 fighter-bomber has fired a Kinzhal hypersonic missile at Ukraine, marking the first use of this missile from this type of aircraft. The Kinzhal missile, also known as the "Dagger," has been a regular feature of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine since the start of the invasion. The use of the Su-34 as a missile launcher could free up other aircraft, such as the MiG-31, to act as interceptors. However, Western experts question the true hypersonic capabilities of the Kinzhal and suggest it may not be as invulnerable to air defenses as claimed. Ukraine claims to have successfully shot down several Kinzhal missiles in recent months.

via Newsweek|

#hypersonic #kinzhal-missile #military