Stratolaunch Acquires Boeing 777 to Boost Hypersonic Testing Capacity
Stratolaunch has acquired a Boeing 777-200ER to serve as a carrier aircraft for its Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle. The plane, previously operated by Air New Zealand, will be converted in-house and is expected to enter service in 2027.
The purchase marks the third carrier aircraft for Stratolaunch, which has a growing demand for hypersonic testing. According to Zachary Krevor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stratolaunch, 'As demand for hypersonic technologies continues to grow, we're building the operational scale to make routine hypersonic testing a reality for our customers around the world.'
The 777-200ER will provide Stratolaunch with greater range, lower mission cost, and flexible deployment capabilities. The company can now run test campaigns in multiple locations simultaneously, which is crucial due to the scarcity of hypersonic test ranges.