Hermeus

Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer focused on the rapid design, build, and test of high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft for the national interest. The company works directly with the U.S. Department of Defense to deliver capabilities that ensure America and its allies maintain an asymmetric advantage. Hermeus's Quarterhorse program produces reusable high-speed demonstrator aircraft for testing in under-explored flight environments. Its Darkhorse vehicle is a multi-mission reusable hypersonic UAS designed for defense and national security missions. The key enabling technology is the Chimera engine—a hybrid turbine-ramjet capable of taking off conventionally, breaking the sound barrier, and accelerating to hypersonic speeds. Hermeus has completed multiple successful first flights of its Quarterhorse aircraft, with its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 completing its second successful first flight in March 2026.