Hermeus Quarterhorse takes flight, eyes Mach 5 by 2026
Hermeus successfully conducted the first flight of its new hypersonic aircraft, the Quarterhorse, from Edwards Air Force Base in California. This marks an important step towards reaching speeds close to Mach 5 by 2026.
As reported by Defense News, Hermeus conducted the first flight of its new hypersonic aircraft, the Quarterhorse. The aircraft, known as Mk 1, is the second version of the Quarterhorse test platform and the first to take to the skies. The test flight, which occurred on May 21, 2025, confirmed the effectiveness of Hermeus' approach to technology development.
"We’ve proven the viability of our iterative development approach. But this is just the start. We have much more to do as the bar rises for the next iteration," said AJ Piplica, CEO of Hermeus.
Quarterhorse — a hypersonic aircraft for the civilian and military sectors
Hermeus initially planned Quarterhorse's flight for 2023, but the date was postponed to the summer, and ultimately, it was achieved in May of this year. The company highlights that it took just over a year from project inception to a flight-ready system. The first flight focused on verifying the Quarterhorse's ability to take off and land, which is particularly challenging for aircraft traveling at very high speeds.
Data from the first flight will be used in the construction of the second test aircraft, Mk 2, which is being developed at the company's headquarters in Atlanta. The Mk 2 is planned to take to the air later in 2025 and reach supersonic speeds.
Hermeus aims to deliver hypersonic aircraft for both defense and commercial customers. The company plans to build one aircraft per year, which will help address challenges related to the operationalization of hypersonic aircraft. The company emphasizes so-called hardware abundance, building many prototypes quickly, which facilitates risk management.
In addition to funding from private investors, Hermeus received support from the Air Force Research Laboratory, which awarded the company a $1.5 million contract in 2020, followed by another $60 million contract the following year. The company was also selected by the Defense Innovation Unit for a program to test hypersonic technologies, which is expected to enhance support for Pentagon programs.
Quarterhorse — may break the record set by the SR-71 Blackbird
The unmanned Quarterhorse aircraft is equipped with a scramjet engine, which is a modified version of the General Electric J85 engine. Additionally, this aircraft must have an airframe coating that can withstand extremely high temperatures, reaching over 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. It is worth noting that if the project is successful, the new machine could potentially join the fleet of the President of the United States.
If the set goals are achieved, the Quarterhorse, reaching a declared speed of Mach 5 (about 3,800 mph), will break the current speed record in flight presently held by the legendary SR-71 Blackbird (over Mach 3).
