Kratos Defense will utilize the Hermeus high-speed Quarterhorse aircraft as part of its support work for the U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency’s Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Testbed (MACH-TB) program. The teaming arrangement specifically involves the Atlanta-based company’s Quarterhorse Mk. 2, confirms Hermeus founder and CEO A.J. Piplica. The partnership, which represents the first major product application for Hermeus, is restricted to “just flight test for now,” he tells Aviation Week. Although not designed for hypersonic speeds at Mach 5 or above, the remotely piloted Quarterhorse Mk. 2 is expected to be capable of high supersonic speeds. The demonstrator, which forms part of Hermeus’ development road map toward more capable follow-on vehicles, is currently undergoing integrated systems testing following installation of its Pratt & Whitney F100-229 engine. The addition of Hermeus to the Kratos lineup provides it with the first high-speed vehicle independently capable of a runway takeoff and landing. The MACH-TB team does, however, include Stratolaunch’s air-launched, reusable Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle which has already completed multiple Mach 5-plus flights—each of which has so far ended successfully with an autonomous landing at Vandenberg SFB, California.

Full report : Kratos To Use Hermeus’ Supersonic Aircraft For MACH-TB.

For more see the OODA Company Profile on Hermeus.