{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"132925","rtpr_id":"nGNX94F2wN","ticker":"FJET","exchange":"NYSE American","all_tickers":["FJET","KRMN","KTOS","RDW","RKLB"],"title":"Only a Handful of Mach 2+ Cold War Jets Are Still Airworthy, and One Company Flies Almost All of Them","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-09-01T15:06:44.123Z","article_body":"CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Sept. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American News Group\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=3r8-R19Wuki90oV0cFJIRvHXdi1pu_JOgkaqr9kgQBidaCFzvHxrp4SSmOgbo9SQ-bIfmFjHfSMAOjN1fS2NeLKMkhikCnNTnfNcu01MWucAFb2b0BB3ptaLhcqKKrhl0zK9fdUkxxrFXNx6AN2bPQ==)\nNews Commentary - The race to develop hypersonic weapons, high-speed defense\nsystems, and next-generation spaceflight hardware has created a demand that is\neasy to overlook: someone has to actually fly the tests. Getting instruments,\nmaterials, and payloads into the high-speed, high-altitude flight regime,\nagain and again, on a schedule and at a cost that makes iterative testing\npractical, is its own specialized capability. One small public company has\nbuilt its business around a fleet of supersonic aircraft that can do exactly\nthat, and this month it is taking that fleet in front of a public audience.\n\nKey Takeaways\n* A public showcase of a rare capability. Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE\nAmerican: FJET) announced it will participate in the September 12-13 AIRSHO at\nthe Midland International Air & Space Port in Texas, showcasing its historic\nF-104 aircraft in both flight and static displays.\n* The world's only commercial Mach 2+ fleet. Starfighters describes itself as\nthe only company in the world with the commercial capability to fly at\nsustained Mach 2+ speeds, operating what it calls the world's only commercial\nfleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ F-104 supersonic aircraft.\n* A scarce, hard-to-replicate asset. More than 2,500 F-104s were built for air\nforces around the world, but the company says only a handful remain airworthy\ntoday, and most of those are in its fleet.\n* Flown by elite aircrew. The F-104 will be piloted by Piercarlo Ciacchi, the\nCompany's Director of Flight Operations, who has over 7,000 hours of flight\ntime and previously flew the F-104 in the Italian Air Force as a member of\nItaly's National Aerobatic Team.\n* A platform, not a museum piece. The company operates its F-104 fleet as\ncommercial flight platforms for high-speed research, testing, and technology\ndevelopment, configurable for air-launched payloads, pilot training, and RDT&E\nacross hypersonics, missile defense, microgravity science, spaceflight\nhardware, advanced materials, and defense electronics.\nWhat Was Announced\n\nStarfighters Space, Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=vxjic9x6Y8d7SRgAXXQOVLUsQl_L7gdPrSsXobolahnggiAPcIy3HNe8GLasJyaSXQVqSWp9cF3VQo4oAZ1DGWxszXXLXVsLd6JmL95QLDrLTR9v88SR-AOjLFC1PPcR)\n(NYSE American: FJET), the space company operating the world's only commercial\nfleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ F-104 supersonic aircraft, announced it will\nparticipate in the September 12-13 AIRSHO at the Midland International Air &\nSpace Port in Texas, showcasing its historic F-104 aircraft in both flight and\nstatic displays. According to the company, the 35th annual Commemorative Air\nForce High Sky Wing AIRSHO brings together historic and modern aircraft for\naerial demonstrations and ground displays, offering attendees an up-close look\nat aviation history.\n\nThe company framed the appearance as an opportunity to show how an icon of\naviation history continues to play a role in the future of aerospace. Today,\nStarfighters operates its F-104 fleet as commercial flight platforms\nsupporting high-speed research, testing, and technology development for\nnext-generation aerospace and space applications, rather than as static\nhistorical artifacts. The aircraft will be flown by the company's Director of\nFlight Operations and lead aviator, Piercarlo Ciacchi, whose background\nincludes more than 7,000 hours of flight time and service flying the F-104 in\nthe Italian Air Force.\n\n“The F-104 has a storied history in supersonic aviation, setting numerous\nspeed, altitude, and time-to-climb records and serving both the Air Force and\nNASA during the early years of the space program,” said Tim Franta, CEO of\nStarfighters Space, in the company's release. “More than 2,500 F-104s were\nbuilt for air forces around the world, but today only a handful remain\nairworthy, and most are in our fleet. We are proud to keep them flying as\nplatforms for aerospace research and testing, and to showcase them to airshow\naudiences when we have the opportunity.”\n\nWhy a 1950s Jet Still Matters to Aerospace Testing\n\nThe F-104 Starfighter first flew in the 1950s and became a record-setting icon\nof the supersonic age, serving both the U.S. Air Force and NASA in the early\nyears of the space program. What makes the aircraft relevant now is not\nnostalgia but physics and economics: a flight-ready jet that can reach\nsustained Mach 2+ speeds provides a reusable, relatively low-cost way to carry\ninstruments, materials, and payloads into a high-speed flight environment that\nis otherwise expensive and difficult to access. For programs developing\nhypersonic technologies, missile-defense systems, and spaceflight hardware,\nthat kind of repeatable high-speed test platform is a genuinely useful tool.\n\nStarfighters bases its F-104 fleet at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida\nand at the Midland Air and Space Port in Texas, and markets the aircraft as\nconfigurable platforms for air-launched payloads, pilot training, and\nResearch, Development, Test, and Evaluation across hypersonics, missile\ndefense, microgravity science, spaceflight hardware, advanced materials, and\ndefense electronic systems. An airshow appearance is, at one level, a\npublic-facing brand moment, but it also puts a scarce and specialized\ncapability in front of a broad audience at a time when high-speed aerospace\ntesting is drawing significant government and commercial interest.\n\nThe Space and Defense Landscape\n\nStarfighters is a small, early-stage company, but it operates against a\nbackdrop of intense investment in space and defense technology, where\nhypersonics, launch, and space-enabled systems have become national\npriorities. The companies below are referenced solely as market and sector\ncontext. They are vastly larger and at materially different stages than\nStarfighters, are not peers, competitors, or financial comparables, and their\nresults are not indicative of Starfighters' prospects. All figures are\napproximate and subject to change.\n\nKratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS)\n\nKratos Defense & Security Solutions\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=9vzwMGWps73LdT3RwJ3sPHU1-zVRXPz2rHH3esn9Yx2X2ISekBF_gH1JrVU7jWotdF9mG5PdaSDDZ2cRIOcQohL0bsehBkO3ylSfLK9VTXspt98RxXTQ9zK0IkxlvyYWyW5rf2I9HSl66oUQIDZ0yw==)\nis a defense-technology company known for jet-powered drones, hypersonic test\nvehicles, and propulsion systems, with direct exposure to some of the most\nsought-after areas in defense today, including hypersonics and missile-defense\narchitecture. Its hypersonic-test-vehicle and high-speed-flight work makes it\nthe closest thematic reference here to a company built around high-speed\naerospace testing.\n\nKratos has been among the stronger-performing defense names, beating earnings\nand raising guidance across recent quarters while drawing attention for its\nexposure to missile-defense and hypersonics priorities. It is referenced only\nas sector context, a far larger and more established company than\nStarfighters, whose results are not indicative of Starfighters' prospects.\n\nRocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB)\n\nRocket Lab\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Ml8UL-DMBmmm5bEGT9U4pBAeL5dCPyl5SMdFKmMq3iB8b7_UIKLXVQc9fkq5jb1fAqbUb-FR5hk12AOUnxJJelLhQDWYt9cz-DVCXg95OS4=)\nis a launch and space-systems company that operates its Electron rocket, is\ndeveloping the larger Neutron vehicle, and builds satellites and space systems\nfor commercial, government, and defense customers. It represents the\nlaunch-and-space-systems end of the sector that high-speed aerospace testing\nultimately feeds into.\n\nRocket Lab has reported strong revenue growth and a substantial backlog, and\nhas been among the most closely watched names in the recent space-sector\nrally. It is referenced purely as market and sector context, a substantially\nlarger and more established company than Starfighters operating a different\nbusiness model, and not as a comparable.\n\nRedwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW)\n\nRedwire\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=EJA8sNq6qUo3zWMJ_dULFYxsY_HFtx2dXB_0JmOmPZfOsBJLELQyp3C9rA1yQwnAocCXjcIF2VmJG1MkFWIY4w==)\nbuilds space infrastructure and components, including structures, solar\narrays, sensors, and in-space manufacturing hardware, and has expanded into\ndrone and defense-adjacent systems. It illustrates the space-infrastructure\nsupply chain that supports the broader buildout Starfighters' testing work is\noriented toward.\n\nRedwire has reported record revenue and backlog during 2026 and has been one\nof the higher-flying names in the space cohort, though it has also seen sharp\nvolatility. It is referenced solely as sector context, a larger and more\nestablished company than Starfighters, and not as a peer or financial\ncomparable.\n\nKarman Space & Defense (NYSE: KRMN)\n\nKarman Space & Defense\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=RHX2Aom250CQeUOxW1pWvAM0vP-XMFrBr8nubYZ_buuTjTp5HWDhGiJIP35MQEjWVbIXyjGsiix_EYWtl8xTuN4Vtpdl0TMPgPLwpG3ajlQ=)\ndesigns and manufactures payload protection, propulsion, and interstage\nsystems for missile-defense, hypersonics, and space-launch programs, supplying\nhardware into U.S. defense and space-sector launch vehicles and spacecraft.\nIts hypersonics and missile-defense supply-chain focus places it in the same\nbroad defense-technology theme that Starfighters' testing platforms serve.\n\nKarman, which listed publicly in 2025, has continued to report results tied to\nmissile-defense, hypersonics, and space-launch demand. It is referenced only\nas market and sector context, a larger and more established company than\nStarfighters operating in a different part of the value chain, and not as a\ncomparable.\n\nThe Bottom Line\n\nAn airshow appearance is not a financial catalyst, and Starfighters remains a\nsmall, early-stage company whose prospects depend on converting a genuinely\nrare capability, a flight-ready Mach 2+ fleet, into sustained commercial and\ngovernment testing demand, with the execution, funding, and regulatory risks\nthat come with that. But the appearance highlights what makes the story\ndistinctive: a scarce, hard-to-replicate asset positioned squarely within the\nhypersonics, missile-defense, and spaceflight-testing priorities drawing\ncapital across the sector. This is a description of a company and its sector,\nnot a prediction about its stock or a recommendation of any kind. Investors\ncan follow the story through American News Group\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=3r8-R19Wuki90oV0cFJIRispepnc6BGkyafX7DF28eVf9mA2CGjNVU6-OE5sG8PD7pkAnmIiaBd6uJ-w_9-OJSahKd7thE7CU8Hz0vxmLxtwe17yLM1i3y-zn5Sc_Il58-QdH9opj7OPdPdD4KTgEQ==)\nas it develops.\n\nTrack the Signals Before the Crowd\n\nThe best positioning happens before the crowd catches on. Eagle Eye is a\nreal-time investor signal-intelligence platform that surfaces sentiment\nshifts, news flow, and trending tickers as they form, so you see attention\nbuilding instead of chasing it. Watch it live at eagle-eye.dev\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=thMya_f_pnpkBmzT-tBeUlS2oFb40F0JqfmUoUQT13m1eXPBscED6CvyfoTnCNXQrEGt3Oysr5xW_frhajmKWA==).\n\nArticle Sources:\n\n[1] Starfighters Space, Inc., “Starfighters Space to Participate in AIRSHO\nat Midland International Air & Space Port,” September 1, 2026 (event\nparticipation, fleet description, pilot background, platform capabilities, and\nexecutive commentary), at www.starfightersspace.com.\n\n[2] Public disclosures and market data of the referenced companies (Kratos\nDefense & Security Solutions, Rocket Lab Corporation, Redwire Corporation, and\nKarman Space & Defense) as cited in the body of this article.\n\n[3] Industry reporting on hypersonics, missile defense, launch, and\nspace-sector investment and demand.\n\nAmerican News Group | editor@americannewsgroup.com\n\nDISCLAIMER\n\nNothing in this publication should be considered personalized financial\nadvice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular\nfinancial situation, and no communication from us should be deemed\npersonalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor\nbefore making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is\nneither an offer nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no\ninvestment licenses and are neither licensed nor qualified to provide\ninvestment advice. The material in this release is intended to be strictly\ninformational and is never to be construed or interpreted as research\nmaterial. All readers are strongly urged to perform their own research and due\ndiligence and to consult a licensed financial professional before considering\nany level of investing in stocks.\n\nThis article is being distributed by American News Group, which is wholly\nowned and operated by Market Equities Limited (“MEL”), a company\nincorporated under the laws of Ireland. MEL has been paid a fee for\nStarfighters Space, Inc. advertising and digital media from Creative Direct\nMarketing Group (“CDMG”). MEL also expects to receive further compensation\nin the future as part of an ongoing digital media effort to increase\nvisibility for the company. This compensation constitutes a conflict of\ninterest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding\nthe profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly\nencouraged not to use this publication as the basis for any investment\ndecision. No further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as\nnotice that all material, including this article, has been reviewed and\napproved on behalf of Starfighters Space, Inc. by CDMG.\n\nMEL does not directly own any shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. However, the\nowner(s) and operator(s) of MEL and American News Group do own shares of\nStarfighters Space, Inc., which were acquired in the open market, and reserve\nthe right to buy and sell shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. at any time\nwithout any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. There may also\nbe third parties who hold shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. and may liquidate\ntheir shares, which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock.\n\nWhile all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us\nto be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in\nthis publication is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent\nresearch. Because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as\nexpected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual\nresults. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their\ninvestment when investing in stocks. This document is governed by the laws of\nIreland.\n\nReferences to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., Rocket Lab\nCorporation, Redwire Corporation and Karman Space & Defense are provided\nsolely as market and sector context. Those companies are not peers,\ncompetitors, or financial comparables of Starfighters Space, Inc. They are\nvastly larger and at materially different stages of development and scale,\noperate different businesses and models, and their revenue, products, and\nshare performance are not indicative of Starfighters Space, Inc.'s prospects.\nNo partnership, affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement is implied, and none\nof them has any involvement in Starfighters Space, Inc., this article, or its\ndistribution.\n\nReaders are cautioned that investing in early-stage companies is highly\nspeculative and carries a high degree of risk. Starfighters Space, Inc. is an\nearly-stage company, and statements regarding its fleet, capabilities, testing\napplications, and future plans are the company's expectations and disclosures,\nnot achieved results. The company's prospects are subject to execution,\nfunding, regulatory, operational, and competitive risks, including risks\nrelating to proposed FAA rule changes regarding the regulation of supersonic\nflights, infrastructure expansion, mission-readiness activities, and\ncommercial and defense demand. Please refer to the company's filings with the\nU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov, including its most\nrecent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings, for a full\ndiscussion of risk factors.\n\nEagle Eye is an investor signal-intelligence platform affiliated with the\npublisher of this article, and this reference constitutes promotion of an\naffiliated product. Eagle Eye is not a broker-dealer, and nothing in the\nplatform or in this article is financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.\nData provided in the platform is for informational purposes only and may be\ndelayed.\n\nThis release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of\napplicable United States securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally\nrelate to future events or the company's future performance and may include\nstatements regarding proposed FAA rule changes relating to the regulation of\nsupersonic flights, infrastructure expansion, mission-readiness activities,\ncommercial space development, hypersonic testing capabilities, future launch\noperations, operational scaling, and broader space-market opportunities, and\nare generally preceded by words such as “may”, “will”, “expects”,\n“anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”,\n“plans”, “potential” or similar expressions. These statements are\nbased on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and assumptions and are\nnot guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially\ndue to risks and uncertainties affecting the company's business, including\nthose described in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange\nCommission at www.sec.gov. You should not place undue reliance on these\nforward-looking statements, which are made as of the date hereof, and American\nNews Group undertakes no obligation to update them except as required by law.\n\nSOURCE American News Group\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/134c155d-474f-4885-ac65-3b8adb6fb783)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX94F2wN","title":"Only a Handful of Mach 2+ Cold War Jets Are Still Airworthy, and One Company Flies Almost All of Them","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"FJET","created":"2026-09-01T15:06:44.123Z","tickers":["FJET","KRMN","KTOS","RDW","RKLB"],"exchange":"NYSE American","article_body":"CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Sept. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American News Group\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=3r8-R19Wuki90oV0cFJIRvHXdi1pu_JOgkaqr9kgQBidaCFzvHxrp4SSmOgbo9SQ-bIfmFjHfSMAOjN1fS2NeLKMkhikCnNTnfNcu01MWucAFb2b0BB3ptaLhcqKKrhl0zK9fdUkxxrFXNx6AN2bPQ==)\nNews Commentary - The race to develop hypersonic weapons, high-speed defense\nsystems, and next-generation spaceflight hardware has created a demand that is\neasy to overlook: someone has to actually fly the tests. Getting instruments,\nmaterials, and payloads into the high-speed, high-altitude flight regime,\nagain and again, on a schedule and at a cost that makes iterative testing\npractical, is its own specialized capability. One small public company has\nbuilt its business around a fleet of supersonic aircraft that can do exactly\nthat, and this month it is taking that fleet in front of a public audience.\n\nKey Takeaways\n* A public showcase of a rare capability. Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE\nAmerican: FJET) announced it will participate in the September 12-13 AIRSHO at\nthe Midland International Air & Space Port in Texas, showcasing its historic\nF-104 aircraft in both flight and static displays.\n* The world's only commercial Mach 2+ fleet. Starfighters describes itself as\nthe only company in the world with the commercial capability to fly at\nsustained Mach 2+ speeds, operating what it calls the world's only commercial\nfleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ F-104 supersonic aircraft.\n* A scarce, hard-to-replicate asset. More than 2,500 F-104s were built for air\nforces around the world, but the company says only a handful remain airworthy\ntoday, and most of those are in its fleet.\n* Flown by elite aircrew. The F-104 will be piloted by Piercarlo Ciacchi, the\nCompany's Director of Flight Operations, who has over 7,000 hours of flight\ntime and previously flew the F-104 in the Italian Air Force as a member of\nItaly's National Aerobatic Team.\n* A platform, not a museum piece. The company operates its F-104 fleet as\ncommercial flight platforms for high-speed research, testing, and technology\ndevelopment, configurable for air-launched payloads, pilot training, and RDT&E\nacross hypersonics, missile defense, microgravity science, spaceflight\nhardware, advanced materials, and defense electronics.\nWhat Was Announced\n\nStarfighters Space, Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=vxjic9x6Y8d7SRgAXXQOVLUsQl_L7gdPrSsXobolahnggiAPcIy3HNe8GLasJyaSXQVqSWp9cF3VQo4oAZ1DGWxszXXLXVsLd6JmL95QLDrLTR9v88SR-AOjLFC1PPcR)\n(NYSE American: FJET), the space company operating the world's only commercial\nfleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ F-104 supersonic aircraft, announced it will\nparticipate in the September 12-13 AIRSHO at the Midland International Air &\nSpace Port in Texas, showcasing its historic F-104 aircraft in both flight and\nstatic displays. According to the company, the 35th annual Commemorative Air\nForce High Sky Wing AIRSHO brings together historic and modern aircraft for\naerial demonstrations and ground displays, offering attendees an up-close look\nat aviation history.\n\nThe company framed the appearance as an opportunity to show how an icon of\naviation history continues to play a role in the future of aerospace. Today,\nStarfighters operates its F-104 fleet as commercial flight platforms\nsupporting high-speed research, testing, and technology development for\nnext-generation aerospace and space applications, rather than as static\nhistorical artifacts. The aircraft will be flown by the company's Director of\nFlight Operations and lead aviator, Piercarlo Ciacchi, whose background\nincludes more than 7,000 hours of flight time and service flying the F-104 in\nthe Italian Air Force.\n\n“The F-104 has a storied history in supersonic aviation, setting numerous\nspeed, altitude, and time-to-climb records and serving both the Air Force and\nNASA during the early years of the space program,” said Tim Franta, CEO of\nStarfighters Space, in the company's release. “More than 2,500 F-104s were\nbuilt for air forces around the world, but today only a handful remain\nairworthy, and most are in our fleet. We are proud to keep them flying as\nplatforms for aerospace research and testing, and to showcase them to airshow\naudiences when we have the opportunity.”\n\nWhy a 1950s Jet Still Matters to Aerospace Testing\n\nThe F-104 Starfighter first flew in the 1950s and became a record-setting icon\nof the supersonic age, serving both the U.S. Air Force and NASA in the early\nyears of the space program. What makes the aircraft relevant now is not\nnostalgia but physics and economics: a flight-ready jet that can reach\nsustained Mach 2+ speeds provides a reusable, relatively low-cost way to carry\ninstruments, materials, and payloads into a high-speed flight environment that\nis otherwise expensive and difficult to access. For programs developing\nhypersonic technologies, missile-defense systems, and spaceflight hardware,\nthat kind of repeatable high-speed test platform is a genuinely useful tool.\n\nStarfighters bases its F-104 fleet at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida\nand at the Midland Air and Space Port in Texas, and markets the aircraft as\nconfigurable platforms for air-launched payloads, pilot training, and\nResearch, Development, Test, and Evaluation across hypersonics, missile\ndefense, microgravity science, spaceflight hardware, advanced materials, and\ndefense electronic systems. An airshow appearance is, at one level, a\npublic-facing brand moment, but it also puts a scarce and specialized\ncapability in front of a broad audience at a time when high-speed aerospace\ntesting is drawing significant government and commercial interest.\n\nThe Space and Defense Landscape\n\nStarfighters is a small, early-stage company, but it operates against a\nbackdrop of intense investment in space and defense technology, where\nhypersonics, launch, and space-enabled systems have become national\npriorities. The companies below are referenced solely as market and sector\ncontext. They are vastly larger and at materially different stages than\nStarfighters, are not peers, competitors, or financial comparables, and their\nresults are not indicative of Starfighters' prospects. All figures are\napproximate and subject to change.\n\nKratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS)\n\nKratos Defense & Security Solutions\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=9vzwMGWps73LdT3RwJ3sPHU1-zVRXPz2rHH3esn9Yx2X2ISekBF_gH1JrVU7jWotdF9mG5PdaSDDZ2cRIOcQohL0bsehBkO3ylSfLK9VTXspt98RxXTQ9zK0IkxlvyYWyW5rf2I9HSl66oUQIDZ0yw==)\nis a defense-technology company known for jet-powered drones, hypersonic test\nvehicles, and propulsion systems, with direct exposure to some of the most\nsought-after areas in defense today, including hypersonics and missile-defense\narchitecture. Its hypersonic-test-vehicle and high-speed-flight work makes it\nthe closest thematic reference here to a company built around high-speed\naerospace testing.\n\nKratos has been among the stronger-performing defense names, beating earnings\nand raising guidance across recent quarters while drawing attention for its\nexposure to missile-defense and hypersonics priorities. It is referenced only\nas sector context, a far larger and more established company than\nStarfighters, whose results are not indicative of Starfighters' prospects.\n\nRocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB)\n\nRocket Lab\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Ml8UL-DMBmmm5bEGT9U4pBAeL5dCPyl5SMdFKmMq3iB8b7_UIKLXVQc9fkq5jb1fAqbUb-FR5hk12AOUnxJJelLhQDWYt9cz-DVCXg95OS4=)\nis a launch and space-systems company that operates its Electron rocket, is\ndeveloping the larger Neutron vehicle, and builds satellites and space systems\nfor commercial, government, and defense customers. It represents the\nlaunch-and-space-systems end of the sector that high-speed aerospace testing\nultimately feeds into.\n\nRocket Lab has reported strong revenue growth and a substantial backlog, and\nhas been among the most closely watched names in the recent space-sector\nrally. It is referenced purely as market and sector context, a substantially\nlarger and more established company than Starfighters operating a different\nbusiness model, and not as a comparable.\n\nRedwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW)\n\nRedwire\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=EJA8sNq6qUo3zWMJ_dULFYxsY_HFtx2dXB_0JmOmPZfOsBJLELQyp3C9rA1yQwnAocCXjcIF2VmJG1MkFWIY4w==)\nbuilds space infrastructure and components, including structures, solar\narrays, sensors, and in-space manufacturing hardware, and has expanded into\ndrone and defense-adjacent systems. It illustrates the space-infrastructure\nsupply chain that supports the broader buildout Starfighters' testing work is\noriented toward.\n\nRedwire has reported record revenue and backlog during 2026 and has been one\nof the higher-flying names in the space cohort, though it has also seen sharp\nvolatility. It is referenced solely as sector context, a larger and more\nestablished company than Starfighters, and not as a peer or financial\ncomparable.\n\nKarman Space & Defense (NYSE: KRMN)\n\nKarman Space & Defense\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=RHX2Aom250CQeUOxW1pWvAM0vP-XMFrBr8nubYZ_buuTjTp5HWDhGiJIP35MQEjWVbIXyjGsiix_EYWtl8xTuN4Vtpdl0TMPgPLwpG3ajlQ=)\ndesigns and manufactures payload protection, propulsion, and interstage\nsystems for missile-defense, hypersonics, and space-launch programs, supplying\nhardware into U.S. defense and space-sector launch vehicles and spacecraft.\nIts hypersonics and missile-defense supply-chain focus places it in the same\nbroad defense-technology theme that Starfighters' testing platforms serve.\n\nKarman, which listed publicly in 2025, has continued to report results tied to\nmissile-defense, hypersonics, and space-launch demand. It is referenced only\nas market and sector context, a larger and more established company than\nStarfighters operating in a different part of the value chain, and not as a\ncomparable.\n\nThe Bottom Line\n\nAn airshow appearance is not a financial catalyst, and Starfighters remains a\nsmall, early-stage company whose prospects depend on converting a genuinely\nrare capability, a flight-ready Mach 2+ fleet, into sustained commercial and\ngovernment testing demand, with the execution, funding, and regulatory risks\nthat come with that. But the appearance highlights what makes the story\ndistinctive: a scarce, hard-to-replicate asset positioned squarely within the\nhypersonics, missile-defense, and spaceflight-testing priorities drawing\ncapital across the sector. This is a description of a company and its sector,\nnot a prediction about its stock or a recommendation of any kind. Investors\ncan follow the story through American News Group\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=3r8-R19Wuki90oV0cFJIRispepnc6BGkyafX7DF28eVf9mA2CGjNVU6-OE5sG8PD7pkAnmIiaBd6uJ-w_9-OJSahKd7thE7CU8Hz0vxmLxtwe17yLM1i3y-zn5Sc_Il58-QdH9opj7OPdPdD4KTgEQ==)\nas it develops.\n\nTrack the Signals Before the Crowd\n\nThe best positioning happens before the crowd catches on. Eagle Eye is a\nreal-time investor signal-intelligence platform that surfaces sentiment\nshifts, news flow, and trending tickers as they form, so you see attention\nbuilding instead of chasing it. Watch it live at eagle-eye.dev\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=thMya_f_pnpkBmzT-tBeUlS2oFb40F0JqfmUoUQT13m1eXPBscED6CvyfoTnCNXQrEGt3Oysr5xW_frhajmKWA==).\n\nArticle Sources:\n\n[1] Starfighters Space, Inc., “Starfighters Space to Participate in AIRSHO\nat Midland International Air & Space Port,” September 1, 2026 (event\nparticipation, fleet description, pilot background, platform capabilities, and\nexecutive commentary), at www.starfightersspace.com.\n\n[2] Public disclosures and market data of the referenced companies (Kratos\nDefense & Security Solutions, Rocket Lab Corporation, Redwire Corporation, and\nKarman Space & Defense) as cited in the body of this article.\n\n[3] Industry reporting on hypersonics, missile defense, launch, and\nspace-sector investment and demand.\n\nAmerican News Group | editor@americannewsgroup.com\n\nDISCLAIMER\n\nNothing in this publication should be considered personalized financial\nadvice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular\nfinancial situation, and no communication from us should be deemed\npersonalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor\nbefore making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is\nneither an offer nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no\ninvestment licenses and are neither licensed nor qualified to provide\ninvestment advice. The material in this release is intended to be strictly\ninformational and is never to be construed or interpreted as research\nmaterial. All readers are strongly urged to perform their own research and due\ndiligence and to consult a licensed financial professional before considering\nany level of investing in stocks.\n\nThis article is being distributed by American News Group, which is wholly\nowned and operated by Market Equities Limited (“MEL”), a company\nincorporated under the laws of Ireland. MEL has been paid a fee for\nStarfighters Space, Inc. advertising and digital media from Creative Direct\nMarketing Group (“CDMG”). MEL also expects to receive further compensation\nin the future as part of an ongoing digital media effort to increase\nvisibility for the company. This compensation constitutes a conflict of\ninterest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding\nthe profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly\nencouraged not to use this publication as the basis for any investment\ndecision. No further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as\nnotice that all material, including this article, has been reviewed and\napproved on behalf of Starfighters Space, Inc. by CDMG.\n\nMEL does not directly own any shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. However, the\nowner(s) and operator(s) of MEL and American News Group do own shares of\nStarfighters Space, Inc., which were acquired in the open market, and reserve\nthe right to buy and sell shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. at any time\nwithout any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. There may also\nbe third parties who hold shares of Starfighters Space, Inc. and may liquidate\ntheir shares, which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock.\n\nWhile all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us\nto be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in\nthis publication is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent\nresearch. Because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as\nexpected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual\nresults. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their\ninvestment when investing in stocks. This document is governed by the laws of\nIreland.\n\nReferences to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., Rocket Lab\nCorporation, Redwire Corporation and Karman Space & Defense are provided\nsolely as market and sector context. Those companies are not peers,\ncompetitors, or financial comparables of Starfighters Space, Inc. They are\nvastly larger and at materially different stages of development and scale,\noperate different businesses and models, and their revenue, products, and\nshare performance are not indicative of Starfighters Space, Inc.'s prospects.\nNo partnership, affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement is implied, and none\nof them has any involvement in Starfighters Space, Inc., this article, or its\ndistribution.\n\nReaders are cautioned that investing in early-stage companies is highly\nspeculative and carries a high degree of risk. Starfighters Space, Inc. is an\nearly-stage company, and statements regarding its fleet, capabilities, testing\napplications, and future plans are the company's expectations and disclosures,\nnot achieved results. The company's prospects are subject to execution,\nfunding, regulatory, operational, and competitive risks, including risks\nrelating to proposed FAA rule changes regarding the regulation of supersonic\nflights, infrastructure expansion, mission-readiness activities, and\ncommercial and defense demand. Please refer to the company's filings with the\nU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov, including its most\nrecent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings, for a full\ndiscussion of risk factors.\n\nEagle Eye is an investor signal-intelligence platform affiliated with the\npublisher of this article, and this reference constitutes promotion of an\naffiliated product. Eagle Eye is not a broker-dealer, and nothing in the\nplatform or in this article is financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.\nData provided in the platform is for informational purposes only and may be\ndelayed.\n\nThis release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of\napplicable United States securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally\nrelate to future events or the company's future performance and may include\nstatements regarding proposed FAA rule changes relating to the regulation of\nsupersonic flights, infrastructure expansion, mission-readiness activities,\ncommercial space development, hypersonic testing capabilities, future launch\noperations, operational scaling, and broader space-market opportunities, and\nare generally preceded by words such as “may”, “will”, “expects”,\n“anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”,\n“plans”, “potential” or similar expressions. These statements are\nbased on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and assumptions and are\nnot guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially\ndue to risks and uncertainties affecting the company's business, including\nthose described in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange\nCommission at www.sec.gov. You should not place undue reliance on these\nforward-looking statements, which are made as of the date hereof, and American\nNews Group undertakes no obligation to update them except as required by law.\n\nSOURCE American News Group\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/134c155d-474f-4885-ac65-3b8adb6fb783)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-01T15:06:44.176729865Z","server_sent_at_ms":1788275204176},"received_at":"2026-09-01T15:06:44.401Z","source_url":"https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/01/3354420/0/en/only-a-handful-of-mach-2-cold-war-jets-are-still-airworthy-and-one-company-flies-almost-all-of-them.html"},"analysis":{"id":"121820","press_release_id":"132925","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Aerospace & Defense","sector":"Industrials"},"redFlags":["Paid advertisement / sponsored content","Author discloses compensation for promotion"],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"Starfighters Space announced it will participate in the September 12-13 AIRSHO in Texas to showcase its Mach 2+ F-104 fleet.\n\nThe company operates its fleet of vintage supersonic jets as commercial platforms for high-speed testing and research in hypersonics and missile defense.\n\nThis release is a paid advertisement distributed by American News Group and serves as a summary of a previously issued company announcement regarding the airshow appearance.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Paid promotional content summarizing an airshow announcement."},"keyFigures":null,"quotedText":"The F-104 has a storied history in supersonic aviation, setting numerous speed, altitude, and time-to-climb records and serving both the Air Force and NASA during the early years of the space program","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Tim Franta","role":"CEO"},{"name":"Piercarlo Ciacchi","role":"Director of Flight Operations"}],"products":["F-104 Starfighter","Electron","Neutron"],"companies":[{"name":"Starfighters Space, Inc.","ticker":"FJET"},{"name":"Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.","ticker":"KTOS","relationship":"mentioned as sector context"},{"name":"Rocket Lab Corporation","ticker":"RKLB","relationship":"mentioned as sector context"},{"name":"Redwire Corporation","ticker":"RDW","relationship":"mentioned as sector context"},{"name":"Karman Space & Defense","ticker":"KRMN","relationship":"mentioned as sector context"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"The article summarizes a company announcement about participating in an airshow, which is a marketing event with no immediate financial impact. 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