Rocket Lab has secured major multibillion-dollar contracts with both the US and UK to support the development of critical hypersonic capabilities.
The company was recently selected by the US Air Force to participate in its $46-billion Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract, an initiative focused on accelerating the development of advanced technologies, including hypersonic weapons.
In the UK, Rocket Lab has also been chosen by the Ministry of Defence to contribute to its $1.3-billion Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework, which is designed to fast-track the delivery of next-generation hypersonic solutions.
Under both agreements, Rocket Lab will provide its HASTE launch platform, offering the US and UK a flexible, next-generation test capability specifically tailored for hypersonic systems.
Alongside the HASTE vehicle, the company will deliver engineering expertise, mission integration, and other specialized services to help accelerate the deployment of advanced hypersonic technologies.
“The ability to contribute toward the collective security of the United States and the United Kingdom across both of these important programs is a proud moment for the HASTE team,” said Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab.
The HASTE Platform
HASTE, or Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron, is a suborbital variant of Rocket Lab’s Electron — one of the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rockets.
It shares many of Electron’s core technologies, including carbon composite structures and 3D-printed engines.
But unlike its predecessor, HASTE features a modified Kick Stage for hypersonic tests, as well as an increased payload capacity of up to 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds).
HASTE can deploy technologies at speeds exceeding 7.5 kilometers (4.6 miles) per second and is capable of propelling payloads to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere from space.
In November 2023, the US Defense Innovation Unit selected the platform for a mission involving the launch of a hypersonic scramjet drone.
“Keeping pace with global developments means more affordable tests at a higher rate that expands the boundaries of hypersonic technology — and that’s a capability we’re already providing all in one platform with HASTE,” Beck noted.
