What Starfighters Space does

Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) is a U.S. aerospace services company headquartered at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, that operates the world's only commercial fleet of seven Lockheed F-104 Starfighter jets capable of sustained Mach 2+ flight with underwing payload capacity. Its core products are the STARLAUNCH airborne launch architecture (STARLAUNCH 1 sub-orbital demonstrator and STARLAUNCH II follow-on), in which a modified F-104 acts as a reusable first-stage lifting platform to carry payloads up to 45,000 feet for air launch to space, and a "Wind Tunnel in the Sky" airborne aerodynamic test service that compresses roughly ten days of ground-tunnel work into a 45-minute flight. The company is developing a supplementary microgravity parabolic-flight service in partnership with Mu-G Technologies at its Midland, Texas facility. Starfighters serves aerospace and defense primes (GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Meggitt, Innoveering), U.S. government customers (U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Florida, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center via RFI response), and has served international government clients including Italy's National Research Council (Aviolancio program), with subcontractor exposure to Kratos on the DoD MACH-TB program.

The business model is professional-services based, with revenue streams tied to contracted flight test services (captive carry, hypersonic testing), airborne aerodynamic testing, microgravity mission services (planned), and historical pilot/spaceflight training. Pricing is mission-quoted and not publicly disclosed; the only public-market price reference is the Reg A IPO at $3.59 per share with a 200-share minimum. As of Q1 2026 the company reported $0 revenue and a $4.27M net loss, classifying it as pre-revenue with the STARLAUNCH air-launch service still in development and an FAA launch license in process. Capital to date includes a $40M Reg A Tier 2 IPO (December 2025) and a $17.5M strategic private placement (May 2026), and the company was added to the Russell 3000 Index effective June 29, 2026.

Name

Starfighters Space

Legal name

Starfighters Space, Inc.

Website

https://starfightersspace.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Starfighters Space operates the world's only commercial fleet of seven Mach 2+ Lockheed F-104 Starfighter jets from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, providing supersonic flight testing, captive-carry hypersonic testing, a "Wind Tunnel in the Sky" airborne aerodynamic test platform, and developing the STARLAUNCH air-launch system for aerospace primes and U.S. defense customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Flight Testing Services

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hypersonic Systems (Weapons & Defense) (IMABAOAG)

Keywords

• Supersonic flight testing
• Hypersonic testing services
• Air-launch platform
• Microgravity flight services
• Pilot spaceflight training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Canaveral

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contracted Flight Test Services: Customer-funded mission-specific supersonic flight services for aerospace and defense development programs, including the GE Aerospace ATLAS solid fuel ramjet captive carry campaign (3 supersonic flights).
2. Airborne Aerodynamic Testing Services: Wind Tunnel in the Sky service offering — using F-104 fleet to provide airborne aerodynamic test conditions in real flight for hypersonic and aerospace R&D customers.
3. Microgravity Mission Services: Planned parabolic microgravity flight services in partnership with Mu-G Technologies at Midland facility for NASA, academic, and commercial research customers.
4. Hypersonic Testing and Pilot Training Services: Historical revenue from pilot training, spaceflight training, hypersonic testing missions, and high-altitude/negative-g test programs prior to ramp of STARLAUNCH. Subcontractor role on Kratos MACH-TB program.
5. Future Air-Launch Payload Deployment: Planned STARLAUNCH I and II air-launch services for small satellite and payload deployment to sub-orbital and low-Earth orbit (pre-revenue as of Q1 2026).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Starfighters Space operates the world's only commercial fleet of seven Lockheed F-104 Starfighter supersonic jets to deliver contracted supersonic and hypersonic flight test services, an airborne aerodynamic testing service branded the "Wind Tunnel in the Sky," and pilot/spaceflight training. The company is developing the STARLAUNCH reusable air-launch platform that uses the F-104 as a first-stage lifting platform to carry payloads up to 45,000 feet for air launch to sub-orbital and low-Earth orbit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STARLAUNCH: Responsive airborne launch platform designed to support commercial, government, research, and national security-related missions using the company's F-104 supersonic aircraft fleet as the first-stage lifting platform to carry payloads up to 45,000 feet for air launch to space. Encompasses the STARLAUNCH I (sub-orbital) and STARLAUNCH II programs.

Products and services

• STARLAUNCH Air-Launch Platform
• Wind Tunnel in the Sky (Airborne Aerodynamic Testing)
• Contracted Supersonic Flight Test Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Single 45-minute F-104 mission provides approximately 20 traditional ground tunnel runs, compressing ~10 days of work into one flight
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Integrated Launch Solutions, Inc. (ILS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 May 2026Engaged to provide engineering and technical integration support for STARLAUNCH pathway from design and analysis toward flight and launch services. Scope includes Mission Design, Analysis & Simulation, Systems Engineering & Technical Integration, Regulatory & Safety Compliance, and Range Integration. ILS team has supported 15+ major launch vehicle programs at 10+ federal ranges and commercial spaceports, with expertise from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, ULA, SpaceX, and U.S. Air Force.
• C-STARS (Center for Science, Technology, and Advanced Research in Space) / University of Florida consortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Joined NSF-backed Industry-University Cooperative Research Center focused on biotechnology, advanced materials, electronics, and in-space manufacturing. Partner institutions include University of Florida, Florida Institute of Technology, Florida A&M University, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Starfighters committed $50,000 annually to integrate its F-104 supersonic fleet into research areas including suborbital and microgravity research from Kennedy Space Center.
• Blackstar OrbitalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Technical Interchange Agreement signed March 26, 2026, expanded during 41st Space Symposium (April 15, 2026). Covers integration, telemetry, safety, range planning for Blackstar's reusable SpaceDrone BX-02C.2 hypersonic spacecraft on Starfighters' F-104 platform. Starfighters developed BL75 pylon as structural interface. Program begins with captive carry operations at KSC in Q4 FY26, progressing to high-altitude supersonic release testing off Florida's Atlantic coast.
• Mu-G Technologies, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Strategic partnership for microgravity flight missions for NASA, academic, and commercial customers across the U.S. and Canada. Partnership expanded in May 2026 under an MOU to host Mu-G's Dassault Falcon 50 at Starfighters' Midland Air & Space Port (KMAF) hangar for modification, parabolic flight testing, and FAA certification. Jointly responding to NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center RFI for Parabolic Flight Services. Founded by Robert S. Ward with a nearly 30-year relationship with Starfighters CEO Tim Franta.
• Kratos Defense & Security SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025Starfighters serves as subcontractor to Kratos Defense on the U.S. Department of Defense's MACH-TB (Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed) program. Kratos was awarded the prime contract; Starfighters provides F-104 aircraft as 'wind tunnel in the sky' test platform for hypersonic technology testing (>Mach 5).
• GE Aerospace / InnoveeringflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Multi-year collaboration on STARLAUNCH test article engineering (external surface engineering complete Mar 2025), ATLAS captive carry supersonic flight tests (3 flights completed Jan 2026), and STARLAUNCH 1 Critical Design Review (Feb 2026). Innoveering is a GE Aerospace subsidiary specializing in high-speed gas dynamics and propulsion systems. Subcontractor relationship through Innoveering for HyCAT/DIU hypersonic testing.
• Space FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuasi-governmental agency responsible for commercializing Kennedy Space Center. Since 2009, Starfighters has leased a portion of Space Florida's Reusable Launch Vehicle Hangar at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Space Florida also provided early-stage loan capital to enable Starfighters to expand the team and begin development. Current customer for aerospace testing.
• Midland Development Corporation (Midland, TX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner for Starfighters' Texas expansion. Economic development agreement commits Starfighters to house at least $78 million in aircraft and equipment at Midland International Air & Space Port by December 2027, creating 23 new full-time jobs by December 2033. Partnership on proposed 'High Speed Airspace Corridor' for supersonic flight over land between Midland and Spaceport America (~290 miles).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Virgin Orbit: Former direct competitor that used a modified Boeing 747 (Cosmic Girl) as an air-launch first stage for small satellite deployment to LEO via the LauncherOne rocket. Most analogous commercial air-launch-to-orbit business model; filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023.
• Stratolaunch: Operates the world's largest aircraft (Roc, a dual-fuselage carrier) as an air-launch platform for hypersonic and small orbital launch vehicles. Closest living comparable to Starfighters' air-launch architecture and hypersonic test bed mission.

Broad incumbents

• Northrop Grumman: Operates the Pegasus rocket, the only currently operational commercial air-launched orbital system, launched from a modified L-1011. Comparable as a defense prime with air-launch and hypersonic capabilities, though broader portfolio.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Prime contractor on the DoD MACH-TB hypersonic test bed program for which Starfighters serves as F-104 subcontractor. Comparable as a hypersonic testing and target drone (UTM/XQ-58) provider to the same defense customer set.
• Rocket Lab: Commercial small-payload launch provider targeting LEO via Electron and Neutron rockets. Competes for the same small-satellite customer demand that STARLAUNCH II is designed to serve, though via vertical launch rather than air-launch.
• SpaceX: Anchor tenant at Kennedy Space Center alongside Starfighters. Dominant commercial launch provider whose reusable Falcon 9 pricing and cadence define the cost curve that any small-launch entrant (air-launch or otherwise) must compete against.
• Lockheed Martin: Stated customer for Starfighters' hypersonic testing services and co-located KSC operator with deep SR-104 / hypersonic weapons program heritage (e.g., HACM, ARRW). Comparable as a hypersonic prime that both buys and competes in supersonic test capacity.
• GE Aerospace: Anchor commercial customer running the ATLAS solid fuel ramjet captive carry program (3 supersonic flights completed) and the HyCAT/DIU hypersonic testing program. Comparable as both customer and propulsion systems expert with parallel interest in hypersonic testing infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Generation Orbit: Atlanta-based startup developing air-launched launch services for small payloads using modified business jets. Closest emerging commercial air-launch peer still actively developing, though at a smaller scale than Starfighters' Mach 2+ F-104 platform.
• Dawn Aerospace: New Zealand-based company developing both spaceplane orbital launch (Dawn Mk-II Aurora) and suborbital/parabolic microgravity flight services (Dawn Mk-I). Comparable as a smaller-scale reusable launch and microgravity services entrant pursuing a similar responsive small-payload thesis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StarfightersInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starfighers-space

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds12 records

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Starfighters Space