Stratolaunch Prepares US IPO to Raise Up to $500 Million

Hypersonic flight company Stratolaunch is preparing to launch a US initial public offering that could raise up to $500 million as soon as October, a person familiar with the matter said.

The company is seeking a valuation of roughly $2 billion to $3 billion, the source added, with Goldman Sachs and Citigroup leading the IPO preparations. Stratolaunch could make its filing public as early as this month.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorised to discuss the matter with the media. Stratolaunch declined to comment.

Backed by Elliott Investment Management and Cerberus Capital Management, Stratolaunch operates what it describes as the only autonomous, reusable, air-launched hypersonic flight test platform in the United States, known as Talon-A.

The company also develops expendable hypersonic targets for missile defence testing and military training, along with weapons subsystems for defence contractors and government customers, according to its website.

Activist investor Elliott took a stake in the company and gained board representation, the Wall Street Journal reported in January.

In May 2025, the Pentagon said Stratolaunch was part of a second successful test of a reusable hypersonic test vehicle. That followed an earlier test of its Talon-A vehicle in December 2024 that was not publicised.