Hermeus has flown its Quarterhorse Mk 1 uncrewed aircraft, marking the first step in a high-speed development roadmap aimed at reviving rapid aircraft design in the United States. The company says the flight demonstrates the viability of its iterative approach to aircraft development, with the test focused on validating high-speed takeoff and landing of a uniquely configured jet.

The Atlanta-based manufacturer took Quarterhorse Mk 1 from clean-sheet design to flight-ready in just over a year. Data gathered from the test campaign has already been applied to Mk 2, which is currently under construction and expected to fly later this year.

CEO and co-founder AJ Piplica says: “Mk 1 has redefined the pace of developing and flying new aircraft. 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.”

The company says it validated key performance areas including aerodynamics, propulsion, software and thermal management systems. The aim is to support the Department of Defense with reusable supersonic platforms and to demonstrate a pace of production not seen since the 1950s.

President and co-founder Skyler Shuford says: “The real-world flight data from Mk 1 provides significant technical value that we’re rolling into our next aircraft. 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.”

Quarterhorse Mk 1 is the first of several uncrewed prototypes to be built and tested in fast succession, as part of Hermeus’ ‘hardware-rich’ strategy. Mk 2 will be roughly the size of an F-16 and designed to further de-risk supersonic flight in uncrewed configurations.

Major General Scott Cain, commander of Air Force Test Center, adds: “Industry partnerships continue to have an important role in the development and test of disruptive and innovative capabilities for our warfighters. The promise of routine hypersonic flight is an exciting capability for the joint team.”