Starfighters Space and Vaya Defense and Space Partner for Supersonic Flight Testing

Starfighters Space, a space company operating the world's only commercially available flight-ready supersonic aircraft, and Vaya Defense and Space, a private developer with a patented Vortex-Hybrid rocket engine, have entered into an agreement to explore supersonic flight testing and future air-launch suborbital missions. The two Florida-based companies announced a memorandum of understanding covering two potential areas of cooperation. The work will combine Starfighters' commercially available flight-ready F-104 aircraft with Vaya's patented Vortex-Hybrid rocket engine.

Both companies are located on Florida's Space Coast, a close proximity expected to support faster engineering, prototype development, engine testing, and flight hardware development.

Sustained Supersonic Flight Testing

The first area of cooperation for sustained supersonic flight hardware testing focuses on Starfighters' "Sky Wind Tunnel" service. This service uses F-104 aircraft to perform sustained flights at speeds exceeding Mach 2, allowing technology to be evaluated in an airborne environment. Under the plan, the companies will assess flights involving Vaya's supersonic test articles and other payloads. The goal is to validate and advance the maturity of hardware under conditions difficult to replicate in ground testing. The service provides developers with an opportunity for equipment to experience actual supersonic flight before further development.

Starfighters operates its F-104 fleet from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Midland International Air and Space Port in Texas. The second path of cooperation will examine whether Vaya's hybrid propulsion technology is suitable for STARLAUNCH, Starfighters' air-launch system. The evaluation will initially focus on suborbital missions. Engineers will study propulsion performance, packaging, and the integration of the vehicle and payload. They will also assess methods for carrying and operating hardware from beneath the F-104's wing.

Propulsion Technology Suitability

Starfighters Space CEO Tim Franta stated, "Vaya has spent years maturing its propulsion technology, which is throttle, restartable, and non-explosive, making it an ideal configuration for a vehicle carried under an aircraft's wing." He added, "Their facility is also just a short drive from our hangar at Kennedy Space Center. This combination of technical compatibility and proximity allows us to move faster than if we were developing and testing hardware separately."

Under the memorandum of understanding, Starfighters will have access to Vaya's propulsion laboratory and precision machine shop facilities. These facilities can support collaborative engineering, prototype production, engine testing, and the development of flight-ready components. Vaya states that its engines are designed with the characteristics required for air-launch systems, including compact packaging, controllable operation, and safe handling. Vaya's President and CEO Dr. Wes Naylor stated, "Air-launch imposes demanding requirements on propulsion systems, requiring them to be compact and safely controllable, which is why we designed our technology that way."

He added, "Starfighters provides a flight environment that is difficult to replicate on the ground and offers us a near-term pathway to demonstrate our technology in the air."

The memorandum of understanding initiates technical evaluations, not the confirmation of flight tests or launches. These two paths will determine how the companies' aircraft, propulsion systems, facilities, and engineering capabilities work together. Any final missions will ultimately depend on the results of these joint technical studies and evaluations.

The Importance of Supersonic Flight Testing for Technological Advancement

This collaboration marks a further advancement in supersonic flight technology, particularly in commercial applications. The combination of Starfighters' F-104 aircraft and Vaya's propulsion system can provide a unique flight environment that is crucial for hardware testing. With the geographical advantages of both companies in Florida, the collaboration will accelerate prototype development and technological maturity. This will not only help validate the feasibility of new technologies but may also drive future air-launch missions, having a profound impact on innovation in the aerospace industry.