World’s Largest Airplane to Launch Hypersonic Aircraft

Six-engined Stratolaunch Roc could be back in the air over California’s Mojave Desert as soon as January.

Thursday, December 09, 2021 at 06:48 PM ET

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Stratolaunch’s massive jet is the world’s largest airplane. It made its first flight in Mojave, California, in 2019. Credit: Stratolaunch

Key Takeaways:

Stratolaunch has secured a U.S. military contract to help develop and defend against hypersonic weapons, providing "threat replication" for the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency.
The company's massive "Roc" aircraft, the world's largest by wingspan, will launch autonomous "Talon-A" test planes to simulate hypersonic threats.
Roc is preparing for new test flights as soon as January, with the first Talon-A hypersonic flight tests scheduled for next year, aiming to counter growing threats from competitors like China.

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Stratolaunch, owner of the world’s largest airplane, has announced a new research contract with the U.S. military to help develop hypersonic weapons.

President and COO Zachary Krevor told FLYING on Thursday the six-engined jet, nicknamed “Roc,” could begin its next set of test flights as soon as January in preparation to launch autonomous hypersonic test planes later in 2022. Hypersonic aircraft are designed to fly at least five times the speed of sound.