Leidos, Rocket Lab Ink Contract to Launch Four Hypersonic Testing Missions

Leidos has awarded Rocket Lab USA a contract to launch four Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron missions in 2024 and 2025.

Leidos announced that it is leading the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed, a Department of Defense program aimed at speeding up hypersonic testing.

It secured the MACH-TB contract through an other transaction authority vehicle awarded by Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane on behalf of the Department of Defense.

In June, Rocket Lab conducted an initial launch demonstration of HASTE for Leidos. Thomas Bell, CEO of Leidos, said the test was the first hypersonic insertion of a payload from a commercial launch vehicle.

Based on Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, HASTE is a suborbital launch vehicle modified to accommodate hypersonic payloads. The vehicle is a more affordable commercial demonstration solution than existing full-scale tests, Rocket Lab said.

HASTE is also expected to serve as the launch rocket for a 3D-printed vehicle developed by Hypersonix USA for a Defense Innovation Unit initiative to accelerate hypersonic testing, similar to MACH-TB.