Rocket Lab Plans 12 Hypersonic Tests as US Accelerates Weapons Development

Rocket Lab is planning 12 hypersonic test launches this year, a move that highlights the company’s growing role in the United States military’s effort to accelerate the development of advanced weapons. The announcement was made by Brian Rogers, Rocket Lab’s vice president of global launch services, who spoke to Fox News about the company’s testing strategy.

HASTE Vehicle Capabilities

The tests will utilize HASTE, which stands for Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron. This vehicle is a suborbital test-launch system derived from Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. According to Rocket Lab, HASTE is designed to carry experimental payloads for flight testing at speeds exceeding 7.5 kilometers per second. The company states that the vehicle can carry payloads weighing up to 700 kilograms and has achieved a 100% mission success rate across its flights, a figure reported in March.

Rogers emphasized the strategic shift in testing methodology. "Rather than saying we need to be stuck in an analysis environment and then it’s a very rigorous test campaign that costs a lot of money and involves a lot of people, now you can say we’re planning 12 tests this year," Rogers told Fox News. He added, "We don’t have to bet the farm on any one of them, which allows us to take more risk and really move the needle in terms of technology development."

Contract Portfolio and Costs

Rocket Lab has secured several significant contracts to support these testing operations. In March, the company signed a $190 million deal for 20 HASTE flights over four years under the MACH-TB 2.0 program. In May, Anduril awarded Rocket Lab a $30 million contract for three HASTE test launches. Additionally, in July, Rocket Lab announced a $266 million Space Force contract for 12 suborbital launches, with options for six more. These missions are scheduled to launch primarily from a new site in Kodiak, Alaska, with the first launch expected no earlier than the end of 2026.

The push for faster testing comes as the U.S. military seeks to replenish missile stockpiles and develop hypersonic weapons, which are currently expensive. Government Accountability Office estimates place the cost of the Army’s Dark Eagle missile at more than $40 million each. A Navy estimate for a hypersonic missile planned for Zumwalt destroyers is approximately $70 million, including development and integration costs. By comparison, a Tomahawk missile costs about $2.6 million, and an Army Precision Strike Missile costs about $1.6 million. Some startups, such as Castelion, are targeting lower price points, with the company stating its Blackbeard hypersonic weapon will cost less than $500,000.

Market Reaction

Following the announcement, shares of Rocket Lab (RKLB) climbed nearly 1% overnight late Tuesday. However, the stock fell 2% on Tuesday to $64.22, marking its fifth consecutive session in the red. Year-to-date, RKLB stock has declined 8%. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for the stock slipped to ‘bearish’ from ‘neutral’ levels a week ago, amid ‘low’ message volume.

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Sources

• finance.yahoo.com: RKLB Stock Climbs Overnight: Rocket Lab Targets 12 Hypersonic Tests As US Pushes For Faster Weapons Development
• tradingview.com: RKLB Stock Climbs Overnight: Rocket Lab Targets 12 Hypersonic Tests As US Pushes For Faster Weapons Development — TradingView News

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.