Overview

• The ATLAS flight test vehicle flew at supersonic speeds three times while mounted to a Starfighters Aerospace F‑104 operating from Kennedy Space Center.
• Engineers gathered in‑flight measurements of aerodynamic loads, heating, and vibration to assess solid‑fuel ramjet behavior under real conditions.
• GE characterized the campaign as the first in‑air demonstration for its solid‑fuel ramjet using reusable captive‑carry hardware.
• The effort forms part of a U.S. push to mature air‑breathing propulsion for future hypersonic weapons in a competitive field that includes Chinese and Russian programs.
• GE highlighted related investments that include the 2022 Innoveering acquisition, 2025 facility upgrades in Ohio and New York, and reported rotating detonation combustion tests with increased airflow.