The Canadian space company is developing SHARP Arrow and SHARP Sabre to support defence, research and commercial missions from secure sites across the country.

NordSpace has launched its SHARP (Supersonic and Hypersonic Applications Research Platform) programme to provide high-speed, high-altitude dual-use solutions for Canada and allied nations. The initiative aims to enhance national defence and commercial capabilities in space-adjacent operations, with a focus on cost-effective, cold-weather-compatible platforms.

SHARP features three key products: SHARP Arrow, SHARP Sabre and the M2S-HyRock engine. SHARP Arrow is an unmanned fixed-wing, rocket-powered aircraft designed for reconnaissance and research missions from standard runways, while SHARP Sabre, derived from NordSpace’s Taiga rocket, is intended for hypersonic flight with large payloads. Both vehicles use sustainable liquid rocket propellants for rapid, reusable operations.

NordSpace CEO, Rahul Goel, says: “The time to build and invest in Canada is now and there is not a second to lose. We have a unique window of opportunity to build a stronger nation and become a more capable ally. We fundamentally believe the pursuit of excellence in space is what sets the greatest nations apart, because this pursuit is a test of that nation’s peoples to push every frontier to its absolute limit.”

The company recently completed integrated testing of its Taiga suborbital rocket system, with SHARP Sabre’s first flight planned for later this year from Spaceport Canada. Qualification tests for the M2S-HyRock engine are also scheduled at NordSpace’s Canadian Space Research Range in 2025.

Canada’s updated defence policy highlights the need for advanced military capabilities to protect Arctic sovereignty, with the government committing $8.1 billion over five years and $73 billion over 20 years to national defence.