In a secondary role, the vehicle may also be used as a spaceplane to launch small satellites when equipped with an expendable upper stage. The concept for the Hypersonic Test and Experimentation Vehicle, known as HYTEV, was developed during preparatory work in 2024 and 2025 under an earlier BAAINBw contract.
The system, comparable in size and take-off mass to a fighter jet, is planned to be flight-ready by the end of 2027, with the main stage powered by two turbofans and an aerospike rocket engine, and a rocket-powered upper stage. Polaris said: “We are incredibly proud of the continuous trust of the Bundeswehr in our competences,” adding that, to its knowledge, “a contract for a comparable system was never awarded before to an entity in Europe, maybe even worldwide.”
The company also highlighted the significance of the programme for its future development and technological ambitions. “We are looking forward to an exciting and highly ambitious project,” Polaris stated.
