Hypersonica, a defense and aerospace company with operations in the UK and Germany, has completed the first hypersonic test flight of a missile by a privately funded European defense company at Andøya Space in Norway.
The test vehicle, designated Scooter HS-1, launched on February 3 and accelerated to speeds exceeding Mach 6, with a range of more than 186 miles (300km). Hypersonica said that all systems operated nominally throughout the ascent and descent phases, with performance validated down to sub-component level at hypersonic speeds.
Hypersonica co-founders CEO Dr Philipp Kerth, and Dr Marc Ewenz its chief technology officer, said in a statement: “Hypersonica has achieved a major milestone on our pathway to developing Europe’s first sovereign hypersonic strike capability by 2029.
“Our test flight yielded invaluable datasets that will inform the design and development of future high-speed strike systems and enhance our ability to analyze adversary weapon profiles.”
The single-stage launch vehicle was designed to gain experience in flight testing, operate payload systems under hypersonic flight conditions, and collect sensor data for system validation and model calibration. Preparation for the test flight, including concept, design, procurement, integration, and ground testing, was completed within nine months.
“As a privately funded startup, our speed from design to the launchpad in just nine months should recalibrate expectations about the costs and time needed to develop this crucial capability,” said Kerth and Ewenz.
Hypersonica’s modular architecture is intended to enable swift upgrades and shorter development cycles, reducing costs by more than 80% compared with conventional approaches, according to the company. This approach aims to enable Europe to field hypersonic capability within the timelines of both the NATO and UK 2030 Hypersonic Frameworks.
Andøya Space provided launch services and telemetry downlink for the mission, enabling the capture of payload data gathered during the flight.
Kolbjørn Blix, head of Andøya Space’s suborbital division, said, “It was a flawless flight and an important first step for Hypersonica in their efforts to strengthen Europe’s access to hypersonic flight technologies.”
Hypersonica’s goal is to develop full hypersonic strike capability by 2029 through a phased approach with successive test flights aimed at demonstrating advanced flight control at hypersonic speeds, achieving complex maneuverability, and meeting full mission requirements.
