Success Story: MACH-TB Launches Suborbital Testbed Vehicle in Support of American Hypersonic Innovation

On June 17, 2023, the MACH-TB program successfully launched its first suborbital testbed vehicle in a critical step forward toward advancing U.S. hypersonic technology.  

To compete with U.S. adversaries, we must rapidly prototype and vet new technology at the speed of mission. The Multiservice Advanced Capability Test Bed (MACH-TB) project, is a dynamic initiative engineered to effectively evaluate and demonstrate hypersonic capabilities prior to integration into existing weapon systems. 

“As the hypersonic race intensifies, there is an urgent need to quickly prototype and test this technology,” said S²MARTS Director Doug Crowe. “The MACH-TB launch announcement marks a pivotal stride forward in preserving America’s unrivaled technical dominance.” 

The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane division, leveraging the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA), awarded the MACH-TB contract to Dynetics in September 2022. Supported by a formidable consortium of 12 subcontractors, the MACH-TB program is tasked with designing an experimental glide body that will undergo rigorous hypersonic capability tests to bolster various Department of Defense (DoD) initiatives. 

The collective power of American innovators in the hypersonic race cannot be underestimated. Of the performers supporting MACH-TB, eight are non-traditional organizations who are new to defense, now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with established industry players. Through the S²MARTS OTA, the DoD successfully eliminated barriers to entry and expanded its reach to the nation’s premier commercial innovators, introducing groundbreaking technologies into the fold.

A collaborative partnership between national and DoD laboratories, academia, small businesses, non-traditional defense enterprises, and industry titans will foster the development and demonstration of hypersonic glide vehicle capabilities. These cutting-edge technologies will solidify America’s unassailable position in the realm of hypersonic technology.

About NSTXL

NSTXL is focused on building a network of innovators and creators across the most sought-after emerging technology fields. As an open-source platform, our approach was designed to encourage network growth and collaboration without stifling change. We support our network by providing commercial-term contracting, open-source technology discovery, modern-day marketing outreach, a strongly interconnected network for easy teaming and cybersecurity compliance support.

About S²MARTS

The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS), managed by NSTXL, is the premier rapid OT contracting vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD) 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.

If you are interested in pursuing upcoming opportunities with the federal government, NSTXL can help you get started.