The Air Force Research Lab last week postponed launching its second X-51A Waverider hypersonic test vehicle. The Waverider departed Edwards AFB, Calif., aboard its B-52 mothership, on March 24, only to be recalled shortly after reaching the test site over the Point Mugu Sea Range. “[T]est controllers opted not to initiate the test since all required test conditions could not be met,” explained Edwards officials in a release. Since the no-go was not due to any malfunction, program officials will reschedule the flight for the next available range date, pending the B-52’s availability and a thorough re-check of the X-51A’s systems. AFRL hopes that the second Waverider vehicle will attain speeds in excess of Mach 6, surpassing the accomplishments of the first X-51A’s flight in May 2010.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.