Talon-A
An uncrewed, reusable rocket plane that flies faster than Mach 5 carrying test equipment, then lands on a runway so it can fly again.
Why it matters
The U.S. has had few ways to test hypersonic missiles and defenses in real flight, and most test vehicles are destroyed after one use. A reusable test plane can fly more often and at lower cost.
How the technology works
A carrier aircraft releases Talon-A at altitude. Its rocket engine accelerates it above Mach 5 while onboard and customer instruments record data.
It then flies itself back to a runway landing and is refurbished for the next flight.
Sources
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction