NASA’s experimental X-43A Hyper X hypersonic research vehicle shatters the speed record for an air-breathing vehicle when it flies to nearly 10 times the speed of sound. Flying from Edwards AFB, Calif., NASA’s B-52B mothership transports the X-43A to a launch location off the Pacific coast.
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.