Rocket Lab has signed a $190 million contract to perform 20 hypersonic test launches for the US Department of War.
The deal, its largest launch agreement to date, adds to the company’s growing backlog of more than 70 missions. It aims to accelerate the testing of advanced aerospace technologies critical to modern defense.
Rocket Lab announced a block buy of 20 hypersonic test flights using its HASTE launch vehicle. The launches will be conducted over four years under the MACH-TB 2.0 program. The first mission is expected to take place within months of signing.
Rocket Lab, a global leader in launch services and space systems, is the provider. The contract is part of the MACH-TB 2.0 program, which is executed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division for the Department of War. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions leads the overall Task Area 1 effort.
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The US military needs to rapidly test hypersonic vehicles, which fly at speeds above Mach 5. Traditional testing methods can be slow and expensive. A dedicated, high‑cadence commercial service helps the Department of War get new technologies into the hands of warfighters faster.
HASTE stands for Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron. It is a modified version of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, designed to carry payloads on hypersonic trajectories. The vehicle can reach speeds exceeding Mach 5, enabling it to simulate real‑world flight conditions for experimental systems.
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Rocket Lab has completed multiple HASTE launches for the MACH‑TB program since 2023, achieving a 100% mission success rate. This new contract locks in a steady launch cadence, giving government and industry partners reliable access to hypersonic flight data.
The company’s founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said the partnership strengthens national security by delivering modern hypersonic capabilities with speed and affordability.
The HASTE vehicle is suborbital, meaning it is designed for testing rather than orbital deployment. The contract spans four years, and the launch tempo will depend on payload readiness and range availability. Additionally, hypersonic testing remains a technically demanding field where any anomaly can cause delays.
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The deal cements Rocket Lab’s position as a key commercial partner for hypersonic testing. With 28 launches sold in the first quarter of 2026 alone, nearly matching its total for all of 2025, the company is scaling up to meet surging defense demand. This momentum underscores the growing role of responsive, commercial launch services in accelerating US hypersonic capabilities.
