On March 28, US startup Hermeus unveiled the Quarterhorse Mk1, a prototype of a new high-speed unmanned jet aircraft, at its factory in Atlanta.
Hermeus' Quarterhorse Mk1 aircraft. Photo: X/Hermuscorp
According to Hermeus, Quarterhorse Mk1 is a step toward the company's long-term goal: building the first reusable hypersonic aircraft (five times the speed of sound or faster).
The Quarterhorse Mk1 will be the first Hermeus-produced aircraft to take to the skies. Test flights to verify high-speed takeoff and landing capabilities are scheduled to take place at Edwards Air Force Base later this year. The company is working with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to demonstrate high-speed maneuverability through this prototype aircraft.
The Mk1 is the second version of the Quarterhorse aircraft – a high-speed test platform that Hermeus is developing with the goal of achieving near-hypersonic flight and potentially reusing it by 2026. The company conducted ground testing with the previous version, the Quarterhorse Mk0, last year.
According to AJ Piplica, founder and CEO of Hermeus, they designed and built the Mk1 in 204 days. Piplica also stated that the next version, the Quarterhorse Mk2, will also be launched. He said it will have even faster engines and reach speeds of Mach 2.5 or higher (2.5 times the speed of sound). The Mk2 is expected to be equipped with Pratt & Whitney F100 engines and fly at supersonic speeds by 2025.
Hermeus is also developing two hypersonic aircraft on a large scale, Darkhorse and Halcyon. Darkhorse is a multi-purpose drone for defense purposes. Meanwhile, Halcyon is a passenger aircraft, expected to be able to complete the New York-London route in just 90 minutes.
Piplica also stated that the successor to its commercially developed engine, the Chimera, will be launched sooner than expected. According to Hermeus, the Chimera is currently powering the first Quarterhorse aircraft, while the larger successor, the Chimera II, will power the Darkhorse.
Thu Thao (According to Interesting Engineering )
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