Rocket Lab has been awarded a $190 million contract by the Pentagon to conduct hypersonic test flights, marking a significant expansion of the company's defense portfolio. The agreement calls for 20 hypersonic flight missions to be executed over a four-year period.
The contract represents Rocket Lab's growing role in supporting U.S. military hypersonic weapon development and testing programs. Hypersonic vehicles travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, presenting unique technical challenges for both propulsion and flight testing that require specialized launch capabilities.