MACH-TB 2.0 Program Award to Explore Reusable & Recoverable Hypersonics Testing

The Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) have announced the award of a Task Area 3 under the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program. This award was given to Stratolaunch and Varda Space Industries.

The Department of War (DoW) TRMC established the MACH-TB program to create an affordable flight test bed that would rapidly increase hypersonic flight test capacity. Subsequently, MACH-TB 2.0 was released in 2024 to enable scalable hypersonic flight testing supported by a pool of launch service providers from the commercial space industry. MACH-TB 2.0 hit the ground running in late 2024 with the award of Task Area 1 to Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, who is leading Engineering, Integration, and Testing (SEIT) for the program.

Task Area 3 is set to expand upon the traditional missile testing paradigm by including Reusable/Recoverable/Innovative (RRI) flight test solutions. Stratolaunch and Varda will conduct RRI launch services and provide RRI launch and test vehicles. This effort will eventually work in tandem with Task Area 2. When awarded, Task Area 2 will focus on providing additional solutions for hypersonics testing capabilities, including test vehicles for experiments, integration, and prototyping.

“This award marks an important milestone in advancing the nation’s hypersonics testing ecosystem. By expanding into reusable and recoverable flight test solutions, MACH-TB 2.0 is enabling faster, more affordable, and data-rich testing that will accelerate innovation across the hypersonics community,” said Tony Kestranek, VP of S²MARTS at NSTXL.

The creation and testing of RRI test solutions under Task Area 3 will move the program towards the DoW goal of achieving a cadence of 50 hypersonic flight tests annually. Once accomplished, the MACH-TB 2.0 program will accelerate hypersonic technology maturation and transition to achieve national strategic goals.

S²MARTS, a rapid Other Transaction (OT) agreement vehicle sponsored by NSWC Crane is an ideal acquisition solution for the MACH-TB program as it provides access to a large pool of hypersonics innovators.

“This is what the S²MARTS OTA is all about. We’re proud to deliver the speed, flexibility, and collaboration necessary to connect Government priorities with the cutting-edge capabilities of industry leaders,” added Kestranek.

S²MARTS is NSWC Crane’s trusted rapid acquisition vehicle, capable of expediting project solicitations with flexible agreements. Through MACH-TB 2.0, the S²MARTS OTA ensures that groundbreaking hypersonic technologies transition from concept to the warfighter at a pace that matches the urgency of the mission.

About S²MARTS

The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS), managed by NSTXL, is the premier rapid OT agreement vehicle for the Department of War (DoW) in trusted microelectronics, strategic & spectrum mission, and other critical mission areas. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division created S²MARTS to grow and engage an elite network of innovators, shorten the path to defense prototype development, and advance national security efforts.