ARMAMENTS

In its press release, the American company Hermeus announced that it has signed a $60 million contract with the United States Air Force (USAF), under the AFWERX Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program led by the Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate (PE) as a follow-on of Phase II SBIR contract. The collaboration also includes support from the US Air Force Research Laboratory.

The contract covers the test flight of a Quarterhorse autonomous aircraft capable of Mach 5 speed. According to the company, the Quarterhorse will be the fastest reusable aircraft in the world with a combined cycle engine (TBCC) based on the GE J85 turbojet engine.

The Hermeus is a newly-established company with a long-term vision to transform the global human transportation network with Mach 5 aircraft. Within Mach 5 speeds, the journey is not merely supersonic, it is hypersonic. At speeds above 3,000 miles per hour, the flight duration from New York to London will be just 90 minutes instead of the current seven hours. 

Also read: Hypersonic weapons: The latest developments – VIDEO