HERMEUS LAUNCHES QUARTERHORSE MK 1: A NEW ERA IN AVIATION

Hermeus, the enterprise revolutionizing hypersonic aircraft, has introduced its inaugural aircraft — Quarterhorse Mk 1 — which is scheduled to take to the skies later this year. Crafted, assembled, and integrated in a brief span of seven months, this is the company’s second fully-combined vehicle in the prior year, succeeding Quarterhorse Mk 0 which concluded its testing operations in November 2023. This rapid iteration pace sets a new benchmark of one aircraft annually, a target the team has established for aircraft innovation.

Quarterhorse Mk 1 is an uncrewed, remotely controlled aircraft driven by a GE J85 engine. Its primary objective is to showcase high-speed takeoff and landing – a crucial enabling asset specific to forthcoming hypersonic aircraft on the company’s agenda. Flight examinations will occur at Edwards Air Force Base.

This landmark achievement signifies the shift from the ‘design and build’ phase to the ‘integrated test’ phase for Mk 1. In the months ahead, the vehicle will undergo a series of evaluations across its subsystems, ground station, operations, and human factors to ready it for flight testing later this year.

“Advancing into the integrated test program is the peak of a tremendous team effort and a significant emotional moment for the entire company,” remarked Hermeus Vice President of Test, Don Kaderbek. “As we embark on the journey to the initial flight, we will perform a thorough assessment of the aircraft’s performance while concurrently reviewing the efficacy of our testing protocols, safety standards, and interdisciplinary team dynamics. We’re thrilled and honored to conduct this testing at the renowned Edwards Air Force Base.”

Each aircraft within the Quarterhorse initiative progressively elevates in intricacy, drawing from the insights gained from previous models. This methodology mitigates program risks across multiple vehicles and hastens the delivery of innovative products and services to Hermeus clientele.

“The most distinctive and crucial element of our philosophy in developing a hypersonic aircraft is our rapid iteration – designing, constructing, and flying an aircraft in less than a year, annually,” stated Hermeus CEO and Co-Founder, AJ Piplica. “It’s a pace that hasn’t been witnessed in the aviation sector for half a century. This methodology has demonstrated success in yielding substantial advancements in the abilities of rockets, satellites, and small drones. We’re now channeling that rapid iteration capability into aircraft. It’s an essential asset for overcoming the challenges of operationalizing hypersonic aircraft.”

In addition to unveiling the aircraft, Hermeus also revealed intentions for the upcoming iteration of Quarterhorse – Mk 2 – which will incorporate the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine and achieve supersonic speeds next year.

“For just over 50 years, the F100 has powered the F-15 and F-16 with unmatched reliability, entering a new epoch of aviation,” stated Josh Goodman, Senior Director of the F100 Program at Pratt & Whitney. “From the J58 powering the SR-71 to the F119 in the F-22 and the F135 in the F-35, Pratt & Whitney has a longstanding legacy of manufacturing state-of-the-art engines, a tradition we will continue as we reinforce our alliance with Hermeus. Witnessing a new aircraft utilizing the F100 supersonic next year will be truly remarkable.”

Hermeus’ strategic pivot to adopt the more proficient F100 engine for Quarterhorse Mk 2 accelerates the company’s roadmap towards Darkhorse, a versatile hypersonic aircraft designated for defense and national security missions, while concurrently providing a compelling intermediate product, the globe’s sole purpose-built high-Mach drone.

“This enhancement is a significant victory in delivering a high-performance aircraft to customers sooner and showcases the effectiveness of the fast and iterative approach at Hermeus. By liberating ourselves from rigid, multi-year development schedules, we are enabled to construct the ideal aircraft for this moment and achieve its flight in less than a year,” explained Hermeus COO and Co-Founder, Skyler Shuford. “Mk 2 will be our 3rd aircraft system built within a year, and while we still need to validate in flight, a substantial amount of programmatic risk is mitigated by having the next aircraft closely following.”