The X-60A hypersonic research vehicle programme will now move into the fabrication phase. Credit: Generation Orbit Launch Services, Inc.

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has completed the critical design review of the X-60A hypersonic flight research vehicle programme.

Formerly known as the GOLauncher 1, the X-60A vehicle is being developed under collaboration between AFRL Aerospace Systems Directorate High Speed Systems Division and Generation Orbit Launch Services.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

It is an affordable air-dropped single-stage rocket-powered test platform expected to serve the hypersonic flight test and suborbital research communities.

The vehicle is designed for hypersonic flight research to mature technologies, including scramjet propulsion, high-temperature materials and autonomous control.

Completion of the critical design review represents a major milestone in the X-60A programme, which is moving into the fabrication phase.

AFRL and Generation Orbit plan to undertake the maiden flight of the vehicle in approximately a year from the US Federal Aviation Administration-licensed Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, Florida, US.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
“While hypersonic ground test facilities are vital in technology development, we must also test those technologies with actual hypersonic flight conditions.”

Cecil Spaceport was chosen for the X-60A programme due to its diversification in hypersonic flight testing compared to traditional Department of Defense flight test ranges.

According to AFRL, the programme is the first US Air Force Small Business Innovative Research programme to secure an experimental ‘X’ designation.

The objective of the X-60A programme is to enhance the frequency of flight testing and reduce the cost of maturing hypersonic technologies in relevant flight conditions.

In a statement, AFRL said: “While hypersonic ground test facilities are vital in technology development, we must also test those technologies with actual hypersonic flight conditions.”

The vehicle’s propulsion system comprises the Hadley liquid rocket engine, which uses liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants.

The system has the ability to provide access to high dynamic pressure flight conditions between Mach 5 and Mach 8.

Generation Orbit stated on its website that in dash mode, the X-60A can achieve the speeds with a test payload attached.