Stratolaunch Boosts Hypersonic Testing Capacity with Boeing 777 Acquisition
Stratolaunch has acquired a Boeing 777-200ER from Air New Zealand to be converted into a carrier aircraft for its Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle. The company announced the purchase on September 30, 2026, and expects the conversion work to be completed by 2027.
The acquisition gives Stratolaunch three carrier aircraft, with Roc and Spirit of Mojave already in service. The company claims that the addition of a third aircraft will increase its flight capacity by about 35% and enable it to run test campaigns in multiple locations around the world simultaneously.
Stratolaunch's President and CEO, Zachary Krevor, stated that the acquisition is part of the company's strategy to build operational scale and provide routine hypersonic testing capabilities for its customers. He emphasized the importance of having a reliable and flexible fleet to meet the growing demand for hypersonic technologies.