Hermeus is an aerospace and defense technology company dedicated to radically accelerating air travel by developing hypersonic aircraft capable of reaching Mach 5—five times the speed of sound. The company’s vision is to transform global transportation, making intercontinental trips, such as New York to Paris, possible in just 90 minutes. Hermeus combines a hardware-rich, iterative development approach with advanced computing and autonomy to bring hypersonic flight to both commercial and defense markets. The company is also focused on delivering next-generation defense capabilities, working closely with the U.S. Air Force and other government agencies to develop high-speed, uncrewed aircraft for national security missions.
Leadership
Founders:
AJ Piplica (Co-Founder & CEO): Background in aerospace engineering, previously worked at Generation Orbit and has experience with NASA programs.
Skyler Shuford (Co-Founder & President, formerly COO): Aerospace engineering background, previously involved in technical leadership and operations.
Glenn Case (Co-Founder & CTO): Expert in propulsion and engine development, with prior experience at NASA and Blue Origin.
Michael Smayda (Co-Founder & CPO): Aerospace engineer with experience at NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin.
Key Executives:
Ken Venner (Chief Operating Officer): Former CIO at SpaceX, Sierra Space, and Broadcom, brings extensive experience in scaling technical organizations and leading IT, security, facilities, supply chain, and safety functions.
The leadership team brings together deep expertise from leading aerospace organizations, startups, and the U.S. military.
Core Technologies
Turbine-Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) Engine: At the heart of Hermeus’ aircraft is the Chimera engine, a hybrid propulsion system that integrates a turbine (jet engine) and a ramjet. This allows the aircraft to take off from conventional runways, break the sound barrier, and accelerate to hypersonic speeds without rockets or motherships.
Chimera II Engine: An advanced version of the Chimera, incorporating a modified Pratt & Whitney F100 core and a precooler to enable full-range, air-breathing hypersonic performance.
Quarterhorse Aircraft: A single-engine, high-speed demonstrator designed to reach Mach 5 and validate Hermeus’ TBCC engine technology. Quarterhorse is also being developed as a platform for defense applications.
Darkhorse Aircraft: A multi-mission, reusable, hypersonic uncrewed aerial system (UAS) designed for defense and national security missions, powered by the Chimera II engine.
Hardware-Rich, Iterative Development: Hermeus emphasizes rapid prototyping, frequent testing, and integration of modern computing and autonomy to accelerate development and reduce costs.
Key Capabilities
Hypersonic Flight: Aircraft capable of sustained speeds up to Mach 5, drastically reducing global travel times and enabling new defense strategies.
Dual-Use Applications: Solutions for both commercial (passenger and cargo transport) and defense (reconnaissance, rapid response, and strategic strike) markets.
Rapid Reusability: Aircraft and engines designed for frequent, affordable testing and operational use, lowering barriers to routine hypersonic flight.
Integration with Existing Infrastructure: Aircraft designed to operate from existing airports and runways, facilitating adoption and deployment.
Advanced Autonomy: Incorporation of modern software and autonomous systems for safe, efficient high-speed operations.
Investors
Total Funding: $216 million as of July 2024.
Key Investors:
Sam Altman (Series B lead)
Founders Fund
In-Q-Tel
Khosla Ventures
Canaan Partners
Raytheon (strategic investor)
United States Air Force (grant funding)
NASA (non-equity assistance)
Funding Rounds:
Seed: Led by Khosla Ventures (2019)
Series A: $16M led by Canaan Partners (2020)
USAF Grant: $60M (2021)
Series B: $100M led by Sam Altman (2022)
Series B extension: $40M (2024)
Valuation: Not publicly disclosed.
Company Type: Private.
Notable Clients
U.S. Air Force: Contracted Hermeus for development and testing of hypersonic aircraft and engines, including the Quarterhorse demonstrator and defense-focused platforms.
Other U.S. Government Agencies: Engaged in projects for national security and defense applications.
Raytheon: Strategic investment and partnership for future aerospace and defense technology development.
