Hypersonic Aircraft Developer Hermeus Secures $100 Million of Funding

GA – Hypersonic aircraft developer Hermeus has secured $100 million of funding to help complete the development of the company’s first aircraft called Quarterhorse. The funding will also help to support flight services operations and the development of its follow-up aircraft called Darkhorse which will be uncrewed and able to sustain hypersonic flight. According to the company, development work on the Quarterhorse and Darkhorse aircraft will help influence the approach toward developing a commercial passenger aircraft called Halcyon.

Over the past year, Hermeus has constructed a 110,000-square-foot factory and conducted more than 100 engine tests including testing of a full-scale proprietary Mach 5 engine called Chimera. The company has also constructed a prototype of its first aircraft and doubled the size of the company’s team. Hermeus expects to complete and fly the Quarterhorse aircraft by next year. The company is partnering with the U.S. Air Force and NASA in an effort to develop a fleet of autonomous hypersonic aircraft as it works towards developing hypersonic passenger aircraft.