Rocket Lab has landed its largest launch contract to date, signing a $190 million agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to carry out a series of hypersonic test missions over the next four years.
The deal covers 20 flights of Rocket Lab’s HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) vehicle, a modified suborbital version of its Electron rocket. Under the agreement, HASTE will serve as a primary launch platform for a joint initiative between the Pentagon and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division.
Hypersonix’s DART AE is powered by a hydrogen-fueled scramjet engine. Credit: Hypersonix Launch Systems
The missions will support the Test Resource Management Center’s Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed 2.0 program, better known as TRMC MACH-TB. The program aims to accelerate the development and testing of hypersonic technologies and advanced aerospace systems critical to future defense operations.
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck described the contract as a major step forward in strengthening U.S. defense capabilities, emphasizing the company’s role in delivering faster and more cost-effective hypersonic testing solutions. He noted that the agreement underscores Rocket Lab’s growing contribution to national security and aerospace innovation.
The contract stipulates that all 20 launches will be conducted within a four-year window, with the first missions expected to begin within months of signing.
HASTE has already demonstrated a steady track record since its debut in June 2023, completing seven launches to date. While many mission details remain classified, most have supported U.S. government agencies, including several tied to the MACH-TB program.
Hypersonic vehicles—defined as those capable of traveling at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound—pose significant challenges for traditional defense systems due to their speed and maneuverability. As global competition intensifies in this emerging field, the U.S. military has prioritized rapid testing capabilities, making platforms like HASTE increasingly valuable.
The new agreement also boosts Rocket Lab’s broader launch pipeline, which now exceeds 70 missions. The company has maintained a brisk launch cadence in 2026, averaging roughly one mission per month. Its most recent HASTE flight took place on February 25, carrying the DART AE payload, with additional Electron launches already completed earlier this year and more scheduled in the near term.
With this contract, Rocket Lab cements its position as a key player in the evolving hypersonic testing landscape, supporting efforts to advance next-generation defense technologies at unprecedented speed.
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