Starfighters Space announced an agreement with Vaya Defense & Space on September 9, 2026, to evaluate flying hypersonic test articles and payloads aboard its F-104 aerial test platform. The company developed a modular underwing system carried on F-104 wing pylons, capable of testing hardware at speeds up to Mach 2.2 as an alternative to heavily booked ground facilities.
Starfighters Space Chief Executive Officer Tim Franta stated that ground supersonic wind tunnels currently face wait times of 12 to 18 months. In contrast, the modified F-104 offers over five minutes of exposure to real-world airflow per flight. The underwing platform can carry up to 1,100 pounds of equipment and previously completed three supersonic captive-carry flights for GE Aerospace in August 2025.
