“The time is right for hypersonics” … a Queensland based start up is about to test launch a game changing sovereign capability. ⬇️
Three global superpowers operate hypersonic missiles currently – the US, China and Russia. Many nations have hypersonic concepts in development and trial, including Australia. A recent article in the National Interest highlights not only the emerging technology race but also Australia’s progress in hypersonic technology:
“Hypersonic weapons and aircraft have become all the rage. There are today multiple American, Chinese, and European companies rapidly developing these capabilities. The Australians being in the crosshairs of China’s growing regional ire understandably want to create systems that would be best suited for defending their increasingly threatened homeland.”
Australia has been working with the US for the past decade or so on SCIFire – seeking to develop a hypersonic strike missile capable of being carried by fighter aircraft such as F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and F-35A Lightning II, as well as the P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft. Another joint project with the same use case is HACM – Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile – which is in development for the US Air Force and the RAAF by Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.
But there’s a Queensland start up doing things the sovereign way that is also making a mark in hypersonics – Hypersonix Launch Systems. Hypersonix is a start up specialising in scramjet engines and hypersonic technology with a mission to develop reusable hydrogen-powered scramjet aircraft that fly faster, further, and to space. Australian Defence Magazine reports that Hypersonix has just announced its next test flight as it races towards bringing a sovereign hypersonic capability to operational reality:
“The flight will see Hypersonix deploy Dart AE, a 3.5-metre, scramjet-powered hypersonic aircraft designed to validate advanced propulsion, materials, sensors and guidance systems at real hypersonic flight conditions.
The mission will be the first flight of Dart AE. Unlike conventional scramjets powered by kerosene, according to Hypersonix, Spartan uses hydrogen.”
While Hypersonix is developing technology that has military use cases, there is also a clear focus on servicing the commercial space and aerospace market. We wish Hypersonix best of luck with the upcoming ‘That’s not a Knife’ launch and great to see sovereign capability like this being developed in Beaten Zone Venture Partner’s own backyard!
📷 via Australian Defence Magazine and articles quoted are in the comments. We’ll also add a link to short YouTube video about Hypersonix to build you situational awareness.