A new challenger has entered the aerospace arena, and it's bringing a fleet of Cold War legends to the 21st-century space race.
Starfighters Space (FJET) operates the world's only commercial fleet of F-104 Starfighter jets out of NASA's Kennedy Space Center—and it plans to use the supersonic aircraft as a reusable first stage for its STARLAUNCH 1 system.
CEO Rick Svetkoff told Benzinga that Starfighters' fleet offers unique launch services and a level of responsiveness that traditional ground-launch platforms struggle to match.
"STARLAUNCH 1 is designed to serve customers that need short-duration, repeatable microgravity access with high schedule certainty," Svetkoff said.
Starfighters Space uses the air launch to orbit method, which works in four stages:
- Transport: A payload is attached to the F-104 aircraft.
- Climb & Speed: The pilot flies to 45,000+ feet and accelerates to Mach 2 (1,500 mph+).
- Release: The payload is dropped and then ignites its own engines in the thin upper atmosphere where there is less drag.
- Recovery: The jet lands like a normal aircraft for reuse immediately, while the payload proceeds to space.
Starfighters' customer roster includes GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT), who have utilized the F-104s as flying laboratories for high-speed captive carry testing and hypersonic research.
"To date, our primary engagement has been with government and defense research organizations, where responsiveness, mission tailoring, and the ability to iterate quickly are critical," Svetkoff said.
The Supersonic Advantage
While most small-satellite and research rockets start from zero at sea level, Starfighters' system allows for a supersonic head start that reduces aerodynamic stress.
CEO Svetkoff said that releasing at altitude “provides benefits that go beyond propellant efficiency, such as allowing payloads to avoid the densest part of the atmosphere, reducing early-flight aerodynamic loads and enabling a cleaner, more controlled ramp into the test regime."
FJET Stock Performance
Starfighters Space's stock has faced some resistance following an explosive IPO in late December 2025.
The stock saw significant initial volatility, surging over 200% in the days following its debut amid high investor interest in space companies.
Starfighters' shares have come down about 35% over the past month, but remain well-above the initial price of $3.59 per share.
Starfighters Space is focused on the future and is positioning itself to meet the surging national demand for rapid hypersonic testing and responsive space missions.
“What excites me most about Starfighters Space is that we're not building a concept – we're operationalizing access,” Svetkoff told Benzinga.
By “using proven aircraft, disciplined execution, and a mission-first mindset,” Starfighters intends to make high-speed access “more responsive and repeatable” than ever before.
Photo: Shutterstock
