🔷 $1.4B Hypersonic Test Bed

MACH-TB 2.0

This week, the Pentagon awarded Kratos a whopping $1.45 billion contract to build a modular hypersonic flying test bed.

What

The program is called Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 and the 5-year OTA contract includes systems engineering, integration, and testing “to include integrated subscale, full-scale, and air launch.”

1.0

Launched in 2022, the first MACH-TB program was created to validate a modular experimental boost glide test bed to support the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) offensive hypersonic strike capability and the MDA’s hypersonic defensive capability.

Dynetics (owned by Leidos) was the prime, and MACH-TB flew more than 25 times in 2 years. Notably, Kratos was one of the sub-contractors.

2.0

MACH-TB 2.0 transitions the previous effort from concept validation to a vehicle suitable for recurring full-scale flight testing.

Once up to speed, the program will provide an affordable bridge between hypersonic ground tests and system-level flight tests.

So What

It appears that MACH-TB 2.0 will follow the 1.0 structure in that it will have a ground-launch and air-launch capability.

Rocket Lab has announced it will serve as a launch provider using its HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) rocket.

Stratolaunch is a subcontractor, too, and notably supported the original MACH-TB with the launcher and the Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle.

You might know Stratolaunch for its enormous twin-fuselage airplane—the largest ever built—and can host an air-launch hypersonic vehicle on the centerline. However, we don’t think that’s what will happen for MACH-TB 2.0.

Why: Stratolaunch announced it was awarded a $24m contract to use its modified Boeing 747 as the hypersonic launcher.

This launcher contract is likely a different ‘Task Area’ on the program; Kratos’ $1.45B award was for Task Area 1, which covers the Systems Engineering, Integration, and Testing (SEIT). Stratolaunch is likely a sub on Kratos’ contract for the 747 integration.

Set to Launch

The Pentagon will be launching a hypersonic test bed from a Boeing 747—before the end of 2025—and that’s just pretty damn cool.

The more important thing is that this is a solid investment being made into hypersonic testing infrastructure—an area the US let atrophy for far too long.

MACH-TB 2.0 should lead to more frequent tests, more data-driven changes, and fewer dead-ends—which means less wasted time and resources.

All it needs now is a better name.

In That Number

1 million

China placed an order for 1 million kamikaze drones from Poly Technologies, the maker of the Sunflower 200–a scaled-down version of the Iranian Shahed 136 drone.

TRIVIA

On this day in 1953, the carrier USS Antietam made history for what notable achievement?

A. Carrier-launched a supersonic jet
B. Tested the first angled flight deck
C. Conducted the first nuclear-powered aircraft trials

On the Radar

The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) guidelines have changed. This will should enable the easier export of long-range missile and space launch technologies to bolster collective defense capabilities and global partnerships. The MTCR was created in 1987 to limit the proliferation of delivery vehicles for weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

• The Merge’s Take: The “M” in MCTR is misleading because, in 1992, it was expanded to include drones. This change effectively categorized large drones as nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, killing the international market for General Atomics’ MQ-1/MQ-9 and Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4. Data point: Over the past decade, China has sold 282 combat drones to 17 countries—the US sold 12 to 2 countries over the same period. Small changes have been made in recent years to rate-match the agreement with the drone markets—time will tell how impactful this latest change is. BTW: this is a voluntary agreement; it always has been.

The Navy declared its Next-Gen Jammer Mid-Band initial operational capable (IOC). The NGJ-MB system, which operates in the 2 GHz to 6 GHz, is part of a larger system of system program to modernize airborne electromagnetic spectrum warfare for the E/A-18 Growler.

• The Merge’s Take: This is the first new operational airborne electronic attack (AEA) capability in nearly 50 years—which tells you just how overdue this mission is for modernization. This NGJ-MB pod is augmented 2 other initiatives—an upgraded pod called NGJ-MBX (expansion) and a complimentary pod called NGJ-LB (low band). It’s been quite a journey to get where it is today—we have the full backstory here.

Air Force F-15 electronic warfare is going into full-rate production. Boeing was awarded a $615m contract to install the AN/ALQ-250, better known as EPAWSS (Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System, built by BAE).

• The Merge’s Take: Better late than never—EPAWSS has been on PowerPoint and Pentagon paperwork for roughly 15 years. The F-15 has limped along with a 1980s radar warning receiver for too long, and ICYMI has lived with zero jamming capability for over a decade.

They Said It
“I think, personally, something that has some increase in cost over Increment 1 would not be outrageous—20 or 30 percent, something like that. But, again, it depends upon the mix, right?”

— Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, on the second increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program

The response was part of a larger conversation on balancing the need for exquisite capabilities with affordable mass.

 Together with

Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.

Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.

Join for free today!

Knowledge Bombs

• Northrop Grumman was cleared for production of the ballistic re-entry vehicle target to support the Next-Gen Interceptor (NGI) program

• The Army is looking for ideas to test air-launched drones from its HADES Global Express ISR biz jet

• Myanmar received the 6th Su-30 fighter from Russia, completing its 2018 order

• Japan awarded Boeing a CCA contract for simulation tests for a prospective drone—presumably to assess the MQ-28

• BAE was tapped by the Army to develop a prototype Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon (MDAC) system capable of firing hypersonic projectiles

• Ukraine has reportedly received less than half of promised US military aid to date

• China’s secretive H-20 stealth bomber was spotted flying (captured on video)

🎁Earn Free Merch!🎁 

Hey. Don't keep us a secret!
Share the Merge = earn free swag. It's that simple.

You currently have 0 referrals, only 3 away from receiving Stickers.

Or copy and paste this link: https://themerge.co/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

ANSWER
Answer: B. The USS Antietam (CV-36) was the first carrier to test the angled flight deck on this day in 1953. Interestingly, it was commissioned in 1945 as a straight deck carrier and took minimal mods to convert it to an angle-deck configuration—serving as a test bed that revolutionized carrier operations for the jet age.