The American company Hermeus has unveiled Ramjet-X, a single-use high-speed vehicle equipped with a ramjet engine. The platform is designed to be launched from the reusable Quarterhorse drone, which will accelerate the system to Mach 3 before separation. This two-stage approach addresses the operational requirements of ramjet engines, which cannot function effectively from a standstill.
Hermeus intends to offer the platform through a 'Flight Test as a Service' model, allowing clients to integrate experimental hardware such as sensors, communication systems, and advanced materials. The engine for the Ramjet-X is currently undergoing ground fire tests at the HEAT facility in Florida, with full-scale integrated flight testing scheduled to begin in 2027.
Development of the Quarterhorse drone continues alongside the new project. In May, the Mk 2.1 version achieved a speed of 1.21 Mach. The upcoming Mk 2.3 variant is expected to reach 3 Mach, or 3675 km/h, which is the speed required to initiate the launch of the Ramjet-X. The company aims to provide regular commercial testing services for high-speed technologies.
