The aircraft progressed from initial design to flight readiness in just over a year. The main aim of the test campaign was to validate high-speed takeoff and landing capabilities for a large uncrewed aircraft.
“Mk 1 has redefined the pace of developing and flying new aircraft,” said Hermeus CEO and Co-Founder, AJ Piplica. “I’m incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished. We’ve proven the viability of our iterative development approach. But this is just the start. We have much more to do as the bar rises for the next iteration.”
Quarterhorse Mk 1 features a distinctive configuration tailored for high-speed operations, making basic functions like takeoff and landing particularly challenging. The successful flight has confirmed the effectiveness of the aircraft’s design and operational systems.
Data gathered from the test campaign validated models for aerodynamics, stability, and control. It also verified the performance of critical subsystems, including propulsion, fuel, hydraulics, power, thermal management, avionics, software, telemetry, and control systems.
“The real-world flight data from Mk 1 provides significant technical value that we’re rolling into our next aircraft,” said Co-Founder and President Skyler Shuford. “Moreover, the team has accomplished this milestone on a challenging timeline while operating within the overall aerospace ecosystem — all to support rebuilding America’s lost capability to quickly develop brand-new, full-scale jets.”
The flight underscores the importance of collaboration in defence innovation. “Industry partnerships continue to have an important role in the development and test of disruptive and innovative capabilities for our warfighters,” commented Major General Scott Cain, Commander of Air Force Test Center. “The promise of routine hypersonic flight is an exciting capability for the joint team.”
Quarterhorse Mk 1 is the first in a planned series of uncrewed aircraft developed using Hermeus’ iterative approach. The company employs a “hardware richness” strategy, producing multiple prototypes rapidly to manage technical risks and accelerate team development.
Hermeus is currently building its next model, Quarterhorse Mk 2, at its Atlanta headquarters. Comparable in size to an F-16, Mk 2 is designed to reduce risks associated with uncrewed supersonic flight and is expected to take flight later this year.
Source: Hermeus.
