Stratolaunch has acquired a Boeing 777-200ER to expand its hypersonic flight-test carrier fleet, adding a third launch aircraft to support its Talon-A programme from Mojave, California. The widebody will be modified to air-launch Talon-A autonomous, reusable hypersonic test vehicles from its fuselage, with completion expected in 2027.
The new aircraft will join Roc and Spirit of Mojave, giving Stratolaunch a larger carrier fleet intended to lift flight capacity by 35%. The company expects the additional platform to ease scheduling pressure, improve deployment flexibility and support parallel missions as customer demand grows.
Stratolaunch has framed the purchase as infrastructure expansion rather than a simple aircraft acquisition, with the 777 becoming part of its reusable hypersonic launch system. Talon-A carries customer payloads on realistic hypersonic profiles before returning for recovery and examination.
The move follows recent programme momentum, including more than 10 successful hypersonic flights reported in July 2026 and a $90.8 million MACH-TB contract award in February. Stratolaunch did not disclose the purchase price or the aircraft’s previous operator.