WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Sept 9): Hypersonic flight company Stratolaunch is preparing to launch a US initial public offering (IPO) that could raise up to US$500 million as soon as October, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Stratolaunch, backed by Elliott Investment Management and Cerberus Capital Management, is seeking a valuation of about US$2 billion to US$3 billion, the source said, adding that Goldman Sachs and Citigroup are leading the IPO preparations.

The private US company could make its filing public as soon as this month, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Stratolaunch declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

The company operates the only autonomous, reusable, air-launched hypersonic flight test platform in the United States, which it calls the "Talon-A".

It also develops expendable hypersonic targets for missile defence testing and military training, as well as 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.

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

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