diff --git a/scripts/ApplyLoad.py b/scripts/ApplyLoad.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..99fdfdfcde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ApplyLoad.py
@@ -0,0 +1,293 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import json
+import os
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+import time
+from datetime import datetime
+
+# Instance type to use. Matches SDF validator instance type.
+INSTANCE_TYPE = 'c5d.2xlarge'
+
+# Directory containing helper files for this script
+APPLY_LOAD_SCRIPT_DIR = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "apply_load")
+
+# Path to the max SAC template configuration file
+MAX_SAC_TEMPLATE = os.path.join(APPLY_LOAD_SCRIPT_DIR, "max-sac-template.cfg")
+
+# User directory on the instance
+USER_DIR = "/home/ubuntu"
+
+# Path to the ephemeral NVMe drive on AWS instance
+NVME_DRIVE = "/dev/nvme1n1"
+
+# Number of SSH connection retries before giving up
+SSH_RETRIES = 10
+
+def run(command, exit_on_fail=True):
+    """ Run a command and exit if it fails. Prints the command's output. """
+    print(f"Running: {command}")
+    res = os.system(command)
+    if res != 0:
+        print(f"Command '{command}' failed with exit code {res}")
+        if exit_on_fail:
+            exit(1)
+        return False
+    return True
+
+def run_capture_output(command):
+    """ Run a command and exit if it fails. Returns the command's output. """
+    try:
+        return subprocess.check_output(command)
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+        print(f"Command '{command}' failed with exit code {e.returncode}")
+        exit(1)
+
+# TODO: If anything fails AFTER starting the instance, we should terminate it.
+# That could be done in this script, or in the Jenkinsfile that calls this
+# script.
+def start_ec2_instance(ami, region, security_group, iam_instance_profile):
+    """ Start an EC2 instance and return its instance id """
+    print("Starting EC2 instance...")
+    cmd = ["aws", "ec2", "run-instances", "--image-id", ami,
+           "--instance-type", INSTANCE_TYPE,
+           "--security-groups", security_group,
+           "--iam-instance-profile", f"Name={iam_instance_profile}",
+           "--tag-specifications",
+           "ResourceType=instance,Tags=[{Key=test,Value=max-sac-tps},{Key=ManagedBy,Value=ApplyLoadScript}]",
+           "--query", "Instances[0].InstanceId",
+           "--output", "text", "--region", region]
+    instance_id = run_capture_output(cmd).decode().strip()
+    print("Started EC2 instance with ID:", instance_id)
+
+    # Wait for instance to be running
+    print("Waiting for instance to be in 'running' state...")
+    run(f"aws ec2 wait instance-running --instance-ids {instance_id} "
+        f"--region {region}")
+    return instance_id
+
+def wait_for_ssm_agent(instance_id, region):
+    """ Wait for SSM agent to be ready on the instance """
+    print("Waiting for SSM agent to be ready...")
+    for i in range(SSH_RETRIES):
+        try:
+            cmd = ["aws", "ssm", "describe-instance-information",
+                   "--instance-information-filter-list",
+                   f"key=InstanceIds,valueSet={instance_id}",
+                   "--region", region]
+            output = run_capture_output(cmd).decode().strip()
+            info = json.loads(output)
+            if info.get("InstanceInformationList"):
+                print("SSM agent is ready.")
+                return True
+        except Exception as e:
+            pass
+
+        sleep_duration = 10
+        print(f"SSM agent not ready yet, retrying ({i+1}/{SSH_RETRIES}) in "
+              f"{sleep_duration} seconds...")
+        time.sleep(sleep_duration)
+
+    print("ERROR: SSM agent failed to become ready")
+    exit(1)
+
+def run_ssm_command(instance_id, region, command):
+    """ Run a command on an EC2 instance via SSM """
+    print(f"Running SSM command on {instance_id}: {command}")
+
+    # Send command
+    cmd = ["aws", "ssm", "send-command",
+           "--instance-ids", instance_id,
+           "--document-name", "AWS-RunShellScript",
+           "--parameters", f"commands=['{command}']",
+           "--region", region,
+           "--query", "Command.CommandId",
+           "--output", "text"]
+    command_id = run_capture_output(cmd).decode().strip()
+
+    # Wait for command to complete
+    print(f"Waiting for command {command_id} to complete...")
+    for i in range(30):
+        time.sleep(5)
+        cmd = ["aws", "ssm", "get-command-invocation",
+               "--command-id", command_id,
+               "--instance-id", instance_id,
+               "--region", region,
+               "--query", "Status",
+               "--output", "text"]
+        try:
+            status = run_capture_output(cmd).decode().strip()
+            if status in ["Success", "Failed", "Cancelled", "TimedOut"]:
+                # Get output
+                cmd = ["aws", "ssm", "get-command-invocation",
+                       "--command-id", command_id,
+                       "--instance-id", instance_id,
+                       "--region", region]
+                output = run_capture_output(cmd).decode().strip()
+                result = json.loads(output)
+                print("Command output:", result.get("StandardOutputContent", ""))
+                if result.get("StandardErrorContent"):
+                    print("Command error:", result.get("StandardErrorContent", ""))
+                return status == "Success"
+        except Exception as e:
+            pass
+
+    print("ERROR: Command timed out")
+    return False
+
+def copy_file_via_s3(instance_id, region, local_file, remote_path, s3_bucket):
+    """ Copy a file to an EC2 instance via S3 and SSM """
+    # Upload file to S3
+    s3_key = f"tmp/{os.path.basename(local_file)}"
+    print(f"Uploading {local_file} to s3://{s3_bucket}/{s3_key}...")
+    run(f"aws s3 cp {local_file} s3://{s3_bucket}/{s3_key} --region {region}")
+
+    # Download from S3 on the instance
+    print(f"Downloading file to instance at {remote_path}...")
+    download_cmd = f"aws s3 cp s3://{s3_bucket}/{s3_key} {remote_path}"
+    run_ssm_command(instance_id, region, download_cmd)
+
+    # Clean up S3 file
+    run(f"aws s3 rm s3://{s3_bucket}/{s3_key} --region {region}")
+
+def copy_files_to_instance(instance_id, region, s3_bucket):
+    """ Copy files to the instance using SSM and S3 """
+    print("Copying files to instance via S3...")
+
+    # Copy this script
+    copy_file_via_s3(instance_id, region, __file__,
+                     f"{USER_DIR}/ApplyLoad.py", s3_bucket)
+
+    run_ssm_command(instance_id, region,
+                    f"chmod +x {USER_DIR}/ApplyLoad.py")
+
+    # Copy config template
+    copy_file_via_s3(instance_id, region, MAX_SAC_TEMPLATE,
+                     f"{USER_DIR}/apply_load/max-sac-template.cfg", s3_bucket)
+
+    # Create directory structure
+    run_ssm_command(instance_id, region, f"mkdir -p {USER_DIR}/apply_load")
+
+def install_script_on_instance(instance_id, region, s3_bucket):
+    """ Install this script on the given EC2 instance via SSM. """
+    # Wait for SSM agent to be ready
+    wait_for_ssm_agent(instance_id, region)
+
+    # Install the awscli on the instance
+    install_awscli(instance_id, region)
+
+    # Copy files
+    copy_files_to_instance(instance_id, region, s3_bucket)
+
+    return instance_id
+
+def install_awscli(instance_id, region):
+    """Install AWS CLI on Ubuntu Linux machine."""
+    print("Installing AWS CLI...")
+    
+    install_cmd = """
+    apt-get update && apt-get install -y unzip curl && \
+    curl \"https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip\" -o awscliv2.zip && \
+    unzip -q awscliv2.zip && ./aws/install && \
+    rm -rf aws awscliv2.zip
+    """
+    
+    run_ssm_command(instance_id, region, install_cmd)
+    print("AWS CLI installation complete.")
+
+def local_aws_init():
+    """ Initialize an AWS instance for running apply-load from the instance
+    itself. """
+    # Mount ephemeral nvme drive such that docker uses it for storage
+    run(f"sudo mkfs.ext4 {NVME_DRIVE} && sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/docker && sudo mount {NVME_DRIVE} /var/lib/docker")
+
+    # Install docker
+    run("sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y docker.io")
+
+    # Allow regular ubuntu user to run docker commands
+    run("sudo usermod -aG docker ubuntu")
+
+def aws_init(ami, region, security_group, iam_instance_profile, s3_bucket):
+    """ Create and initialize an AWS instance for running apply-load. """
+    # Start instance
+    instance_id = start_ec2_instance(ami, region, security_group, iam_instance_profile)
+
+    # Install this script on the instance
+    install_script_on_instance(instance_id, region, s3_bucket)
+
+    # Remotely invoke local-aws-init on the instance
+    run_ssm_command(instance_id, region,
+                    f"cd {USER_DIR} && python3 ApplyLoad.py local-aws-init")
+
+    # Print instance id for Jenkins to store
+    print(f"{instance_id}")
+
+def run_max_sac(cfg, image, iops):
+    """ Run apply-load in max SAC TPS mode with the given config file. """
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile() as cfg_out:
+        cfg_out.write(cfg.encode())
+        cfg_out.flush()
+        iops_cmd = (f"--device-write-iops {NVME_DRIVE}:{iops} "
+                    f"--device-read-iops {NVME_DRIVE}:{iops}"
+                    if iops is not None else "")
+        run(f"docker run --rm -v {cfg_out.name}:/config.cfg {iops_cmd} {image} "
+            "apply-load --mode max-sac-tps --console --conf /config.cfg")
+
+def generate_cfg(clusters, batch_size):
+    """ Generate a configuration file for max SAC TPS mode. """
+    with open(MAX_SAC_TEMPLATE, "r") as template_file:
+        template = template_file.read()
+        return template.format(clusters=clusters, batch_size=batch_size)
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import argparse
+
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Helper script to run apply-load tests on AWS")
+
+    subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(dest="mode", required=True)
+
+    aws_init_parser = subparsers.add_parser(
+        "aws-init",
+        help="Create and initialize an AWS instance for running apply-load.")
+    aws_init_parser.add_argument(
+        "--ubuntu-ami", type=str,
+        help="AMI ID to use. Must be an Ubuntu image.")
+    aws_init_parser.add_argument("--region", type=str, help="AWS region to use.")
+    aws_init_parser.add_argument("--security-group", type=str,
+                         help="AWS security group to use.")
+    aws_init_parser.add_argument("--iam-instance-profile", type=str,
+                         help="IAM instance profile to use.")
+    aws_init_parser.add_argument("--s3-bucket", type=str,
+                         help="S3 bucket to use for file transfer.")
+
+    subparsers.add_parser(
+        "local-aws-init",
+        help="Initialize the local AWS instance for running apply-load.")
+
+    run_max_sac_parser = subparsers.add_parser(
+        "max-sac", help="Run apply-load in max SAC TPS mode.")
+    run_max_sac_parser.add_argument(
+        "--image", type=str, required=True, help="Docker image to use.")
+    run_max_sac_parser.add_argument(
+        "--clusters", type=int, required=True,
+        help="Number of transaction clusters (threads).")
+    run_max_sac_parser.add_argument(
+        "--batch-size", type=int, required=True,
+        help="Batch size for transactions.")
+    run_max_sac_parser.add_argument(
+        "--iops", type=int, required=False, help="IOPS limit for the disk.")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    if args.mode == "aws-init":
+        aws_init(args.ubuntu_ami, args.region, args.security_group,
+                 args.iam_instance_profile, args.s3_bucket)
+    elif args.mode == "local-aws-init":
+        local_aws_init()
+    elif args.mode == "max-sac":
+        cfg = generate_cfg(args.clusters, args.batch_size)
+        run_max_sac(cfg, args.image, args.iops)
+    else:
+        print(f"Unknown mode: {args.mode}")
+        exit(1)
diff --git a/scripts/apply_load/max-sac-template.cfg b/scripts/apply_load/max-sac-template.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..93217c31a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/apply_load/max-sac-template.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# This is the Stellar Core configuration example for using the load generation
+# (apply-load) tool for testing the theoretical max SAC (Stellar asset contract)
+# transfer TPS via binary search (measured based on apply time only).
+
+# The core with this configuration should run using `./stellar-core apply-load --mode max-sac-tps`
+
+# Enable load generation
+ARTIFICIALLY_GENERATE_LOAD_FOR_TESTING=true
+
+# Diagnostic events should generally be disabled, but can be enabled for debug
+ENABLE_SOROBAN_DIAGNOSTIC_EVENTS = false
+
+# The only relevant network configuration parameter - number of transaction
+# clusters that are then mapped to the transaction execution threads.
+APPLY_LOAD_LEDGER_MAX_DEPENDENT_TX_CLUSTERS = {clusters}
+
+# Number of payments to batch in a single transaction, similarly to how
+# operations are batched for 'classic' transactions.
+APPLY_LOAD_BATCH_SAC_COUNT = {batch_size}
+
+# Number of ledgers to close for every iteration of search.
+APPLY_LOAD_NUM_LEDGERS = 50
+
+# Disable bucket list pre-generation as it's not necessary for this mode.
+APPLY_LOAD_BL_SIMULATED_LEDGERS = 0
+APPLY_LOAD_BL_WRITE_FREQUENCY = 0
+APPLY_LOAD_BL_BATCH_SIZE = 0
+APPLY_LOAD_BL_LAST_BATCH_SIZE = 0
+APPLY_LOAD_BL_LAST_BATCH_LEDGERS = 0
+
+# Minimal core config boilerplate
+
+RUN_STANDALONE=true
+NODE_IS_VALIDATOR=true
+UNSAFE_QUORUM=true
+NETWORK_PASSPHRASE="Standalone Network ; February 2017"
+NODE_SEED="SDQVDISRYN2JXBS7ICL7QJAEKB3HWBJFP2QECXG7GZICAHBK4UNJCWK2 self"
+
+[QUORUM_SET]
+THRESHOLD_PERCENT=100
+VALIDATORS=["$self"]
diff --git a/src/rust/soroban/p25 b/src/rust/soroban/p25
index 9f00199751..d2ff024b72 160000
--- a/src/rust/soroban/p25
+++ b/src/rust/soroban/p25
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 9f00199751db5f516517049ab9af952b0a26725a
+Subproject commit d2ff024b72f7f3f75737402ac74ca5d0093a4690