Why Is Rocket Lab Stock Trading Higher On Thursday?

Rocket Lab USA Inc. RKLB has been tapped by defense contractor Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc KTOS to carry out a hypersonic flight test for the U.S. Department of Defense as part of the MACH-TB 2.0 program.

The mission, set to occur no sooner than early 2026, will lift off from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 2 located on Wallops Island, Virginia.

It represents the initial full-scale test flight granted by Kratos through the $1.45 billion MACH-TB 2.0 initiative, aimed at accelerating the development and evaluation of hypersonic technologies.

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Rocket Lab joined the MACH-TB 2.0 roster in January, following its successful support of multiple hypersonic tests under the original MACH-TB program in 2023.

The company previously executed three missions for the Department of Defense, two of which launched just three weeks apart from the same Virginia site.

“In less than two years since its first launch, HASTE has quickly emerged as a leading commercial test platform of hypersonic systems. With our operational speed and cadence, and the ability to serve multiple mission profiles all in one platform, HASTE is helping to move the needle on hypersonic innovation,” said founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck.

For the upcoming test, Rocket Lab will deploy its HASTE launch vehicle, a suborbital adaptation of the company's Electron rocket.

Designed for high-speed performance and flexible payload capacity, HASTE features lightweight carbon composite construction, additively manufactured engines, and a reconfigured Kick Stage tailored to support larger hypersonic experiment loads.

The rocket can propel test systems at speeds exceeding 7.5 kilometers per second, allowing trials of air-breathing propulsion, glide bodies, and atmospheric reentry systems.

Beyond the MACH-TB program, HASTE has been added to several international defense frameworks. It is now listed under the U.S. Air Force's $46 billion Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract (EWAAC), granting Rocket Lab eligibility to compete for further defense-related launch services.

Price Action: RKLB shares traded higher by 8.21% at $21.96 at the last check on Thursday.

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