WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. – Rocket Lab successfully launched its HASTE rocket on February 27th, carrying the DART AE hypersonic aircraft developed by Australian aerospace firm Hypersonix, marking a significant step forward in U.S. Efforts to advance hypersonic flight technology. The mission, dubbed “That’s Not A Knife,” took off at 7:00 PM EST (00:00 UTC on February 28th) from Launch Complex 2 at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. This successful launch represents the second hypersonic test mission for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in three months and the seventh overall HASTE launch.
The mission is part of the DIU’s High-Cadence Advanced Hypersonic Experimentation (HyCAT) program, designed to accelerate the testing and development of hypersonic capabilities. According to Rocket Lab, HyCAT aims to lower cost barriers and increase the frequency of hypersonic tests for the United States and its allies, providing unprecedented control over flight profiles and environments up to Mach 20. The collaboration between Rocket Lab and Hypersonix highlights the growing international cooperation in the pursuit of advanced aerospace systems.
Advancing Hypersonic Technology Through Collaborative Testing
The DART AE vehicle, built by Hypersonix, is a scramjet-powered aircraft intended as a technology demonstrator for non-ballistic hypersonic flight. The HASTE rocket accelerated the DART AE to speeds exceeding Mach 5 before deploying it to conduct its independent flight sequence. Data collected during the flight will focus on key areas such as scramjet propulsion, aerothermodynamics, and vehicle control, supporting future Department of Defense testing and development. Rocket Lab emphasized the importance of this mission in restoring the nation’s hypersonic test capabilities.
This flight marks the second test under the HyCAT program, which was initiated by the DIU in 2022. The first HyCAT mission, conducted in November, involved a collaboration with the Missile Defense Agency and carried several unidentified payloads, including one developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. The increasing pace of these tests reflects a broader push within the Department of Defense to implement hypersonic weapon systems, such as the Air Force’s Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon and the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon.
HASTE: A Versatile Platform for Hypersonic Research
Rocket Lab’s HASTE vehicle is a suborbital version of its Electron rocket, typically used for launching small satellites for commercial and national security clients. The company modified the Electron in 2022 to support high-speed test missions in response to the Pentagon’s growing interest in hypersonic technologies. The Defense News reported that HASTE’s first mission for MACH-TB took place in June 2023.
The HyCAT program’s establishment coincides with a wider Department of Defense initiative to deploy hypersonic weapon capabilities that have been under development for years. The ability to rapidly test and iterate on hypersonic designs is seen as crucial to maintaining a technological edge in this critical area of defense. The success of the “That’s Not A Knife” mission demonstrates the effectiveness of the HASTE platform in providing a responsive and cost-effective solution for hypersonic testing.
The mission, formally named “Cassowary Vex,” underscores the strategic importance of collaboration between the U.S. And its allies in advancing aerospace technology. The involvement of Hypersonix, an Australian firm, highlights the benefits of international partnerships in addressing complex technological challenges. The data gathered from the DART AE flight will be invaluable in refining hypersonic vehicle designs and accelerating the development of future hypersonic systems.
Looking ahead, Rocket Lab is preparing for future HASTE missions and continuing to invest in its hypersonic testing capabilities. The next scheduled update from the DIU regarding the analysis of the data collected from “Cassowary Vex” is expected in late spring 2026. Readers interested in learning more about Rocket Lab’s missions can visit their website and follow them on social media for live launch updates.
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