Image source: topwar.ru
The Talon-A2 unmanned aircraft, created by the American company Stratolaunch, is capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach five, or five times faster than the speed of sound. This aircraft has proven this twice in three months.
This was reported in the press service of the manufacturing company.
They said that flight tests of the Talon-A2 reusable hypersonic drone have been successfully completed in the United States. In total, two test flights were conducted, which became another step closer to the American military's goal of creating hypersonic weapons.
The fact is that the tests of the aircraft are carried out within the framework of the US Department of Defense MACH-TB program ("Multi-purpose Hypersonic Test Site of Enhanced Capabilities"), aimed at accelerating the creation of hypersonic weapons with the involvement of private companies.
Image source: topwar.ru
The first test was conducted in December 2024, and the second in March 2025. In both cases, the device was launched from a Roc carrier aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. And at the end of the flight, at which the drone's speed exceeded Mach 5, it landed on the runway of the Vanderberg Space Force Base in California.
Image source: topwar.ru
The Roc, also referred to as the Stratolaunch Model 351, has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in the world – 117 meters. It was originally intended to put satellites into orbit, but later it was decided to use it for other purposes.
