The European Space Agency has successfully completed the first System Requirements Review for its INVICTUS hypersonic aircraft project. This milestone, achieved in March 2026, allows the program to advance to its next development stage.
Frazer-Nash, the lead contractor, secured a €7 million contract from ESA in July 2025 to handle initial design tasks. The work encompasses aerodynamics, propulsion, pre-cooling, safety, and cost modeling.
The project aims to create a reusable hypersonic test vehicle capable of reaching Mach 5. While initial procurement documents suggested a 2028 flight, current timelines indicate a shift toward 2031 or later.
The program team is now preparing for a second system review, which is currently scheduled for October 2027. Technical leads noted that integrated propulsion testing is expected to occur around 2032.
