Brisbane-based Hypersonix Launch Systems has secured US$46 million in funding to advance development of its hydrogen-powered scramjet engine and support flight testing of its hypersonic demonstrator vehicle under a United States Department of Defense program.
The money will fund the flight testing of DART AE, an 11.5ft (3.5m) hypersonic vehicle powered by the company’s SPARTAN scramjet engine. The vehicle will fly as part of the US Department of Defense (DOD) HyCAT program, delivered by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia using a Rocket Lab booster.
The SPARTAN engine is 3D-printed, reusable, and capable of reaching Mach 12 with no moving parts, according to Hypersonix. The engine uses hydrogen fuel instead of kerosene, producing zero carbon dioxide emissions.
“SPARTAN is more than a propulsion system. It’s a breakthrough in reusable hypersonic flight,” said Dr Michael Smart, co-founder and former chair of hypersonic propulsion at the University of Queensland. “What we’re building is a sovereign platform that’s clean, cost-effective, and engineered for the real world.”
Hypersonix was awarded the first prototype contract under the HyCAT program, selected from over 60 applicants. The DIU focuses on accelerating the adoption of commercial technologies by the US military.
The mission aims to demonstrate the world’s first sustained hypersonic flight using hydrogen propulsion. DART AE will test the SPARTAN engine’s performance during atmospheric hypersonic flight conditions.
Proceeds from the funding round will also establish advanced manufacturing capabilities in Queensland and accelerate development of VISR, a 26ft (8m) reusable hydrogen-fueled hypersonic aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The VISR platform will use four SPARTAN engines and ceramic matrix composites to withstand sustained hypersonic flight temperatures.
“This raise marks a major milestone as we prepare to launch the world’s first hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft,” said Matt Hill, CEO. “Having Australia’s sovereign investor in manufacturing capability behind such a critical strategic capability sends a powerful message.”
The funding round was led by UK-based High Tor Capital, with participation from Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC), Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), European defense company Saab, and Polish company RKKVC. The NRFC committed US$10 million in its first defense sector investment.
David Gall, CEO of the NRFC, said defense is one of the organization’s priority areas. “We see huge potential in backing Australian companies and innovations that build our sovereign capability while also tapping into the global market for hypersonic and counter hypersonic capabilities among our friends and allies,” he said.
Hypersonix was founded in 2019 and employs 45 people in Brisbane, Australia, across engineering, manufacturing, and testing roles. The SPARTAN engine technology was developed by Smart as part of his research at the University of Queensland and NASA.
For more detailed information about the challenges Hypersonix and other companies developing hypersonic aircraft are solving, read our exclusive feature!
