05 January 2024

Hermeus completes Quarterhorse subsystem vehicle ground testing

by Zach Rosenberg

Quarterhorse Mk 0, Hermeus' ‘dynamic iron bird'. (Hermeus)

Hermeus has completed tests of its first Quarterhorse hypersonic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – a ground test article dubbed “Mk 0”, according to a statement by the company. The ground tests are intended to pave the way for flight-testing later in 2024.

Testing of what the company calls its “dynamic iron bird” took place at the US Air Force's (USAF's) Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma, Tennessee, over a 37-day time span. Among other tasks, the craft demonstrated ground-handling qualities of integrated subsystems, taxiing, and lost-link behaviour.

The vehicle was designed and constructed in six months, according to Hermeus.

“This was the first time our flight test team had an opportunity to work in a deployed test campaign with external stakeholders,” Don Kaderbek, Hermeus' vice-president of test, said in a statement. “The more the team works together and establishes their battle rhythm, the smoother flight-testing will go.”

The Quarterhorse Mk 0 is the first of a planned four test articles, three of which are intended to be flightworthy. The follow-ons, designated Mks 1 to 3, are intended to demonstrate higher speeds and more complex manoeuvres, culminating in hypersonic flight. A first flight is planned before the end of 2024.

Quarterhorse is intended to serve as a test vehicle for hypersonic technologies. The UAV is powered by a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine, based around the General Electric J85 engine. In November 2023 Hermeus received a grant from the Defense Innovation Unit to mature its hypersonic propulsion technology and has received funding from the USAF and Raytheon in the past.

Hermeus' Quarterhorse is one of a stable of planned hypersonic vehicles, intended to prove TBCC technology for the larger, defence-marketed Darkhorse.

Hermeus has completed tests of its first Quarterhorse hypersonic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – a g...

Jane's Find unrivaled intelligence, consultancy and advertising solutions to the defence and national security sectors.