Hermeus Progresses on Quarterhorse Mk 2 Assembly for 2025 Flight
Atlanta-based hypersonic startup Hermeus is making significant strides in the assembly of its Quarterhorse Mk 2 prototype. The company recently released new images showing the prototype now supported by its landing gear. This advancement brings Hermeus closer to its planned first flight, scheduled for the end of 2025. The supersonic-capable aircraft is a crucial milestone in the company’s mission to develop reusable hypersonic flight technology.
The Quarterhorse Mk 2 boasts a delta wing configuration and variable air intake, comparable in size to an F-16 fighter jet. The aircraft will be powered by a modified Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engine, enhanced with Hermeus’s proprietary pre-cooling system. This cutting-edge technology is key to achieving hypersonic speeds in future aircraft iterations.
This development follows the successful first flight of the Quarterhorse Mk 1 in May 2025 at Edwards Air Force Base. The Mk 2 will be Hermeus’s first supersonic-capable aircraft and serves as a crucial stepping stone to the Mk 3 variant. The latter aims to breach the Mach 5 hypersonic barrier. Hermeus maintains an ambitious timeline, planning to develop and test one aircraft per year under its iterative approach to hypersonic aircraft development.
Source: Flight Global