The launch, dubbed “That’s Not A Knife,” will deploy DART AE, a scramjet-powered aircraft developed by Australian aerospace engineering firm Hypersonix, marking the latest DIU mission supported by Rocket Lab. According to the company, the flight will be its fourth hypersonic test mission in under six months and reflects its investment in restoring the nation’s hypersonic test capabilities through commercial speed, innovation and execution, which it described as “a critical priority for the Department of War.”
Rocket Lab said HASTE lowers cost barriers and increases the test launch tempo for the United States and its allies, providing testers with control over flight profiles and environments up to Mach 20. The company added that this commercial capability “remains unmatched globally and expands and secures U.S. space superiority,” underscoring the strategic focus of the program.
