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 assist in the development and defense against hypersonic weapons.
Their massive "Roc" aircraft will launch autonomous "Talon-A" test planes, designed to replicate hypersonic threats for research by the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency.
This initiative aims to help the military understand and counter the growing threat of hypersonic weapons, with test flights for Roc and Talon-A anticipated to begin soon.

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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.