Stratolaunch Talon A: A reusable hypersonic system. It reaches Mach 5+. 10+ times.

The Talon A is a hypersonic, air-launched concept. That system has 10+ successful launches. The thing that makes this aircraft interesting. It’s that this system is reusable. So. When Talon A is released from its mothership. It can complete its mission and return to base. This system could act as a long-range reconnaissance drone. These kinds of systems could penetrate the airspace. And search for interesting objects. 

The hypersonic ramjet-driven system. It can also act as a space transporter and ASAT system. The hypersonic, air-breathing system. It can use a so-called rocket ramjet.  The rocket ramjet engine. Or. So-called flap ramjet. There is a hatch at the air inlet. When. The aircraft moves in the atmosphere. That system takes oxygen from the air. When. It transfers it out from the atmosphere. The ramjet-engined reusable system. It can be used to accelerate a plane to that speed. There is the scramjet engine. It can be started. 

Talon A dropped from the mothership. 

The air hatch closes. And the system transfers to using internal oxygen. The system is basically similar to the flap engine of the WWII German Fi-103, V1 flying bombs. But the shape of the engine tube is different. This system turns the hypersonic system capable of operating outside the atmosphere. 

“X-15 after igniting rocket engine”. (Wikipedia, X-15)

But. The Talon A-type systems. They can also be part of R&D work with larger, more capable systems. The SR-72 DarkStar is one of those new systems. The Ramjet and Scramjet-based technology is the thing.  That can make new jet fighters more deadly. The hypersonic technology is not a new idea. Since the 1960s, test planes like the X-15 have been used to test technology. That allows aircraft to travel at speeds that are above Mach 3. Top speed of the X-15. It was about Mach 6,70. X-15 made that record in 1968 in the program’s final flight. 

“Lockheed Martin SR-72 concept” (ScitechDaily, Lockheed Martin SR-72)

The X-15 rocket plane. It was calculated. That. It could transport a 68 kg satellite. To orbit. The X-15 was a rocket. That had wings. The reaction engine could operate in space.

The Ramjet engine uses oxygen from air. But it's easy to transform into a rocket ramjet. The flap at the air inlet. It must only be closed. And the plane. It must be transferred to use an internal oxygenizer. That allows the system to operate in space.  Small-sized ramjet and scramjet-based systems. They can be launched from mothership planes. But. Larger-sized systems require some other technology. The space plane. That operates from runways. It can use regular turbine engines. To accelerate the aircraft to a speed where the ramjet can start. When that system travels to the edge of space. It. Transforms to use an internal oxygenizer. 

https://www.stratolaunch.com/vehicles/talon-a/

https://theaviationist.com/2025/05/06/stratolaunch-tests-talon-a2-reusable-hypersonic-flight/

https://zamin.uz/en/technology/213878-the-hypersonic-technology-race-talon-a-drone-reaches-a-new-milestone.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_SR-72

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_X-15