Hermeus, an aerospace and defense technology company, has just revealed their first aircraft: the Quarterhorse Mk 1. What makes this unveiling particularly distinct, is the rapid pace of the company's construction and integration process - finished in just seven months. Designed as a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and powered by a GE J85 engine, this advanced platform will demonstrate high-speed takeoff and landing - a stepping-stone for future iterations of hypersonic aircraft on the company's roadmap. Its development establishes a new industry benchmark of one aircraft per year, signaling an exciting innovation in aviation technology.

The Quarterhorse Mk 1 is set to take flight later this year at Edwards Air Force Base, marking a significant shift from the 'design and build' phase to the 'integrated test' phase. The following months will witness a series of thorough tests among its subsystems, ground station, operations, and human factors to ensure readiness for its inaugural flight. Continual progression is the heart of the Quarterhorse program, with each aircraft increasing in complexity to manage program risks and speed up the delivery process to customers, thereby leveraging insights from all preceding builds.

The news of Quarterhorse Mk 1 doesn’t end there, plans for its successor, the Quarterhorse Mk 2, are already underway. With a more powerful and technologically superior Pratt & Whitney F100 engine, this next iteration is slated to achieve supersonic speeds by next year, furthering Hermeus' goal of bringing cost-effective hypersonic travel closer to reality. With a futuristic business model and a commitment to accelerated aircraft development, Hermeus is paving the way for the next big thing in the aviation industry.

📷: HERMEUS