Leidos, a Fortune 500 technology, engineering, and science solutions company, has announced the successful completion of a large-scale test for its MACH-TB program. The program aims to increase the speed of testing for commercially available hypersonic systems. As part of the program, Leidos’ Dynetics team created an experimental glide body (EGB) to gather data and validate the performance of hypersonic glide body components.
The test launch took place on June 17 at Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 2 at Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. Rocket Lab was selected by Leidos to provide hypersonic test launch capabilities under the MACH-TB project awarded by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane through the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicle on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Leidos CEO Tom Bell expressed his satisfaction with the successful test, stating that the MACH-TB team was able to create this innovative technology demonstration in just 49 days. He emphasized the company’s ability to deliver on promises.
Dr. Angie Lewis, NSWC Crane Technical Director, highlighted the significance of the test launch in advancing hypersonic innovation. She stated that their approach will accelerate progress to ensure that the nation has the necessary capabilities to counter and address the current threat landscape.
The next phase of the MACH-TB program will build upon this successful test to develop additional opportunities for hypersonic flight testing in support of technology maturation. Bell concluded by expressing Leidos’ pride in manufacturing a test bed that can provide the U.S. with an advantage in the great power competition.
