Hermeus

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Hermeus is an American high-speed aircraft manufacturer focused on the rapid design, build, and testing of high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft for national defense. The company works directly with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop high-speed aviation capabilities intended to support the national interest and maintain technological advantages for the United States and its allies.

Contents

Hermeus
Company type Private
IndustryAerospace
Founded2018
FounderAJ Piplica (CEO)
Skyler Shuford (COO)
Glenn Case (CTO)
Mike Smayda (CPO)
Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia
Number of locations
4
Website hermeus.com

History

The company was founded in November 2018 [1] and raised its seed funding from Khosla Ventures [2] in April 2019.

In February 2020, Hermeus successfully tested a subscale prototype engine demonstrating turbojet–ramjet operation. Later that year, it received an AFWERX STRATFI contract [3] from the U.S. Air Force and closed a $16 million Series A round.

In 2021, Hermeus secured $60 million in funding from the U.S. Air Force and venture capital to support the Quarterhorse flight test program. [4]

In March 2022, the company raised a $100 million series B investment round led by Sam Altman. [5] Other investors included Founders Fund, In-Q-Tel, and existing investors Khosla Ventures, Canaan Partners, and Bling Capital.

In 2023, Hermeus conducted subscale wind-tunnel tests, began building the Mk 0 ground-test vehicle, and signed a multi-year contract with the Defense Innovation Unit.

In 2024, Hermeus initiated precooler testing on the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine as part of the development of its next-generation Chimera II turbine-based combined-cycle propulsion system.

Quarterhorse Mk 1 completed its ground-test campaign at Edwards Air Force Base in December 2024, meeting requirements for flight approval. The aircraft achieved its first flight in May 2025, a key milestone in the company’s high-speed flight-test roadmap.

The company is currently developing the Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, the next build in the program and the first designed to reach supersonic airspeeds.

Products

Quarterhorse

Darkhorse

Darkhorse is a multi-mission reusable hypersonic uncrewed aerial system (UAS) designed for defense and national security missions.  Hypersonic aircraft represent a major step change in defense technology, offering unprecedented speed, altitude, and maneuverability.

Design

Hermeus develops high-speed propulsion systems based on turbine-based combined-cycle (TBCC) technology. The company’s approach integrates a precooler with a modified Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engine. The precooler reduces the temperature of incoming high-speed airflow, protecting turbine components and enabling efficient operation at higher Mach numbers.

The company’s Chimera engine is the world’s first commercially developed turbine-based combined-cycle engine. In turbine mode, Chimera operates like a conventional jet engine for low-speed flight. As speed increases, the engine routes incoming air around the turbine, allowing the ramjet to take over for high-Mach operation. Chimera was successfully tested in November 2022, demonstrating its turbojet–to–ramjet transition capability.

Unlike rocket-powered hypersonic platforms, Chimera is an air-breathing system that does not require a rocket booster to accelerate, which Hermeus states is intended to improve operability, maintainability, and rapid turnaround for future high-speed aircraft.

Development

Hermeus follows a rapid, iterative development model aimed at accelerating the pace of high-speed aircraft production. Each build has moved from design through manufacturing and integration on accelerated timelines, reflecting a pace of execution rarely seen in modern aircraft development. This rapid build-and-test cycle is central to the company’s approach to advancing high-speed technologies.

Testing

In August 2024, Hermeus completed low-speed taxi testing of it's ground-test vehicle, [6] [7] and in May 2025 Quarterhorse Mk 1 conducted its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base. During their period, Quarterhorse Mk 2 was already well into its manufacturing process.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hermeus wins seed funding for hypersonic aircraft, with former Blue Origin president as adviser". GeekWire. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  2. ↑ Berger, Eric (13 May 2019). "Hermeus announces plan to build the fastest aircraft in the world". Ars Technica. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Air Force awards contract to Hermeus". Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Archived from the original on 2025-09-09. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  4. ↑ Hermeus begins testing the Quarterhorse Mk 0 prototype. Journal Military. n.d. Retrieved October 6, 2024– via YouTube.
  5. ↑ Sheetz, Michael (2022-03-10). "Hypersonic aircraft start-up Hermeus raises $100 million to finish prototype, build out fleet". CNBC. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  6. ↑ "Hermeus Marks Progress With Quarterhorse Taxi Testing". aviationweek.com/. August 23, 2024.
  7. ↑ Hermeus Completes Testing of Quarterhorse Mk 0 Vehicle. Hermeus. n.d. Retrieved October 6, 2024– via YouTube.

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