Kratos Successfully Launches Erinyes Hypersonic Test Bed
PRESS RELEASE
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
7/4/20241 min read
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc has successfully concluded the first launch and flight of the Kratos Erinyes Hypersonic Test Bed. The event occurred on June 12, 2024, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia
Known as Hypersonic Test Bed-1 (HTB-1), the mission was conducted in collaboration with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC). The flight was uneventful and provided some significant data and proved itself as a reliable hypersonic testbed
The company developed Erinyes in three years for under $15 million with a mix of internal investment and congressional funding.The program relies on vehicles like Rocket lab's HASTE and Stratolaunch's Talon-A to test components and subsystems in a realistic flight environment that mimics the conditions these systems might face as they fly and maneuver at Mach 5 and higher speeds. A single Erinyes costs around $5 million that is excluding the rocket motor. Kratos is also developing a line of rocket motors called Zeus, designed to provide greater thrust and range at a lower cost.
